Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
PHOTOS BY RICARDO MAKYN, Staff Photographer -
Students of the Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory School competing in the Schools Jonkunno competition at the Schools Auditorium on Saturday, December 18.
AS WE stave off the effects of globalisation with a weathered stick it is imperative the cultural traditions be passed to the next generation, even as these traditions do battle with Nintendo and Nickelodeon. On Saturday morning it was clear that some amount was being done.
The mid-morning heat (which would fortunately soon ceased as clouds moved in) a throng of set girls, Jack in the Green, House Boat and other Jonkunnu characters turned up at the Sts. Peter and Paul grounds on Saturday morning. They were there for the Sts. Peter and Paul School's Costume competition.
Normally, jonkunnu characters frighten children, but on Saturday morning they were being played by children. The competition was orchestrated by Delrose Burke, one of the school's two drama teachers. She noted that originally the competition was for the members of the Folk Culture Club but was expanded because other children and their parents expressed interest in participating.
CANCELLATION
The cancellation of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Jonkunnu Festival had resulted in the school's competition. Burke explained that the Folk Culture Club is aimed at encouraging learning through the folk culture. While the students in the kindergarten, members of the drama club, focus solely on drama, the older students are taught about folk culture including the geographic locations.
The participants ranged from three to nine-year-olds who first paraded in groups. They then competed in the individual kind of costumes. Several of the costumes celebrated new takes on the traditional garb. As such there was a full-blue pitchy-patchy, sailor suits trimmed with bandana and a house boat that looked more like a townhouse than the traditional octagon structure.
The children generally seemed enthusiastic to be in their costumes and a few, like young Carson O'Sullivan thrilled the audience. Dressed like a tiny policeman, he marched enthusiastically on the stage all by himself. Several of the younger children needed much encouragement and they got from the parents who lined themselves close to the stage and cheered on their young ones, or any of the young ones who needed it.
TOUCHES OF ELEGANCE
Most of the costumes had been created by Ms. Burke. A few of the parents however, had made their own costumes. Heather Francis and her aunt put together a beautiful mint green dress for Jeovanna Badson's set girl costume. She explained that her decision to make the costume came as a result of her wish to get more involved in the process. The costume was given a few touches of elegance with a Jeovanna's grandmother's white floppy brimmed hat and her grandaunt's wedding gloves.
Annett Francis was another of the parents who had orchestrated her children's costumes. The mother of two explained that she had got the outfits made by her dressmaker. Five year-old Jodi-Ann was a beautiful madame of the set-girls in a gold and white off the shoulder gown, set off by a gold staff and white broad brimmed hat. The hat was enhanced by a dashing feather. Her brother, Jason, was dressed as a king, a revised version of the actor boy. He sported grey and purple and wore grey curls beneath his gold and red crown.
Understanding culture was not the only motive behind the morning's activities. Burke said that the proceeds would be donated to the AIDS hospice. She said that she encouraged an atmosphere of "fortunate children, sharing with the unfortunate" by donating the proceeds from the various events to the charity. At Easter there is a hat parade while summer features a clown and puppetry show.
