From the Wiki:
Junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of Akan origin in many towns across the Bahamas every Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day (January 1), the same as “Kakamotobi” or the Fancy Dress Festival. The largest Junkanoo parade happens in the capital Nassau, New Providence. There are also Junkanoo parades in Miami in June and Key West in October, where local black American populations have their roots in The Bahamas. In addition to being a culture dance for the Garifuna people,[1][2] this type of dancing is also performed in The Bahamas on Independence day and other historical holidays.
Dances are choreographed to the beat of goatskin drums and cowbells.
Here’s kind of what that looks like.
In popular culture, junkanoo has been portrayed or featured in the James Bond film Thunderball, and also in one episode of Miami Vice, and in Top Chef: All Stars, season 8.
What’s interesting about this? At least, to me?
Well, in 1973, a record store employee in Hialeah, Florida named Harry Wayne Kasey started a band.
He called it KC & The Sunshine Junkanoo Band.
Do a little dance. Make a little love. Get down tonight. Get down tonight.
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