Cultural Experience Productions Company has embarked on a venture to ensure that Jr. Junkanoo is better than ever. The company that has a long and colourful history of bringing various Bahamian cultural art forms to life has yet another accomplishment to be proud of.
Recently at a press conference they announced that they would be the first company to introduce prizes for both male and females in the Off The Shoulder Category, which will be introduced to the parade commonly called the Esso Jr. Junkanoo Parade beginning this Christmas.
Margaret Elizabeth Mckay, C.E.O of the company was proud to explain why. 'For many years we have watched the Off The Shoulder prize be awarded to males. The costumes are sometimes heavy and well suited for them, and they in turn are allowed to add more features to them. Females however, work just as hard as the males and deserve to be judged independently. The idea the brainchild of Margaret Elizabeth's daughter Angelique Mckay, came to her after many years of participating in the parade as an off the shoulder dancer, and realizing that in the Jr. Junkanoo or the adult parades that there is not such a category. She saw this as an opportunity to allow the High School students to begin to hone their skills in this area for their entry into the Sr. Junkanoo parades.
'In a statement to the media she said, ' There are two trophies that are designed for this particular category by two of our country's top young talented Junkanoo artists Mr. Treilon Stuart and Mr. Carlos Bain who designed the trophy for the female and male respectively. The inspiration for the design and names of the trophy's came from the Western coast of Africa.
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The name of the female trophy YORUBA is that of a West African goddess, deity of the rivers that sustain life, she rules love, beauty and the arts, especially dance. The male trophy is called SHANGO: God of Thunder, Drums and Dance, he was elevated from being a famous warrior and the fourth King of the Yoruba.
Percy 'Vola' Francis, Min. Of Culture who is directly responsible for the Jr. Junkanoo Parade and Charles Maynard, Minister of Culture respectively both endorsed the idea of improving the parades in this way. Both gentlemen were also delighted to welcome Original Patties as a sponsor.
Cultural Experience Productions has not only decided to sponsor these two trophy's but will also continue to provide young talented Bahamian artists from all areas to showcase their talent. The company also created costumes for the Tempest, the anchor production of the highly successful Shakespeare in Paradise Festival. According to the directors of the productions the headpieces brought the production to life and created the mystique that surrounded the performances.
Junkanoo is also often described as mystical and this lends to the great interest in it by young people. Cultural Bahamas intends to work to raise the level of that interest. There is a great need for the country to showcase the culture of the Bahamas through the eyes of the young and Cultural Bahamas intends to stand on the shoulders of our forefathers in this regard and to showcase the culture of the Bahamas through the talents of the young.
