(Bannerman Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas) On Saturday night, July 26th, 2014, Ministry of Tourism’s Junkanoo Summer Festival in Eleuthera teamed up with the 4th Annual Bannerman Town Homecoming event, held at Miller Park in Bannerman Town.
The homecoming event was a real cultural experience, with all Bahamian music by DJ Snow, and early evening live music entertainment by the local ‘ Island Flavor’ band, just before the Junkanoo competition between groups from Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound erupted in the street surrounding the park around 10:30 pm. The two groups were competing in best banner, best off the shoulder piece, and best choreography categories.
Unlike some of the other homecoming events held so far in 2014, Bannerman Town did not feel like organizers were trying to bring the DJ disco club to the homecoming site.
After the Junkanoo competition where each group rushed around the park one time, the plaiting of the maypole began with a local group twisting, turning, overlapping and dancing around the maypole plaiting and unplaiting colourful ribbons surrounding it.
Following the plaiting of the maypole was the grand finale rush out by the Governors Harbour Junkanoo group called ‘The Harbour Boys’. They brought even more vibrant rhythm and dance to the homecoming audience.
Soon after the grand finale Junkanoo rush out ended, prizes and awards were presented to the Junkanoo groups for three different events, including the Christmas competition (Held in December 2013, where four groups competed – Hatchet Bay, Rock Sound, Governor’s Harbour and Tarpum Bay); the Governors Harbour Junkanoo Summer Festival competition (Held on July 16th, where Hatchet Bay and Governor’s Harbour competed); as well as the Bannerman Town Junkanoo Summer Festival competition (Held on July 26th, where Rock Sound and Tarpum Bay competed).
Tourism Manager, Ms. Jacqueline Gibson and Junkanoo leader, Mr. Danny Decosta were also recognized and awarded with plaques for their contributions to Junior Junkanoo in Eleuthera.
At about 12:50 am the talented and renown Bahamian entertainer KB hit the stage, starting off with his famous single, ‘Just ‘Cause She Fat’!
See final results below:
Bannerman Town Junkanoo Summer Festival competition: Best Banner – Tarpum Bay; Best Off the Shoulder – Tarpum Bay; Best Choreography – Rock Sound
Governor’s Harbour Junkanoo Summer Festival competition: Best Banner – Governor’s Harbour; Best Off the Shoulder – Hatchet Bay; Best Choreography – Governor’s Harbour
Christmas trophies awarded: 1st Place – Tarpum Bay ‘United’; 2nd Place – Governor’s Harbour ‘Harbour Boys’; 3rd Place – Rock Sound ‘New Vision’; 4th Place – Hatchet Bay ‘Village Boys’
