Roots
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Saxons Superstars
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Valley Boys
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Junkanoo Groups
One Family defected from the Saxon Superstars in early 1993 and in the same year participated in the Boxing Day Parade. One Family’s leadership consists of a steering committee whose chairperson changes annually. According to Mr. Jackson Burnside the reason One Family broke away from the Saxons was that the group grew too large. One Family need to expose their talents and an opportunity to express their creativity.
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The Pigs were formed in 1971 by members of the Valley Boys. The group’s leader, Tyrone ‘Dr. Off’ Fritzgerald, and his associates left the Valley Boys. The reason being was that the increasing bulk of the costumes hindered movement.
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Photo Gallery
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Roots Leader
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Roots Junkanoo Website
Roots Junkanoo group is the realism of an ideal dreamt up by four young men who were stagnated within the old-time despotic machinations of one of the powerhouses in the Junkanoo World.
Leslie Johnson Les”, Kevin Rahming “Dribbs, Anthony Smith Chinese” and Wendell Francis Guts” persuaded three other icons in the field, Paul Knowles Diamond”, Peter Turn quest Gold” and Quentin Woodside Barabbas”, to form a new democratically run organization.
At its inception meeting held in a backyard, Dribbs, a costume builder, gave the new entity its name and identity, ROOTS.
Since the group’s appearance in the annual parades the competition level has risen, as it was proven that a newcomer could be a force to reckon with.
ROOTS placed a close 3rd in its very first parade, Boxing Day 1991 and took home the winning prize five days later in the 1992 New Years parade.
Led by Paul Knowles for some seven years and now Leslie Johnson for the past three, ROOTS has managed to walk away with numerous awards, including the coveted “Best Music” in the 1992, 1995, and 2001 New Years parades. These awards recognize the strong discipline of the backline and brass leadership endeavoring coordination and core set-up and a mutual respect and pride in all facets, which contribute to our signature sound. ROOTS was the first Junkanoo group to produce an album, CD and cassette packaged featuring Junkanoo music and is the only group with three production volumes, ‘Roots in the Morning’, ‘Jubilee’ and ‘ROOTS, Back on the Side’, all bestsellers.
Both “Barabbas” and Chris Justilien made significant contributions to the ROOT’s backline and brass sections respectively, over the past years, but now under new leadership ROOTS’ music has risen to another level. “Tino”and “Hercules” are both barely 20 years old, yet they have stepped to the forefront of the backline and if the “lil Oscar” has any thing to say the infamous “Wolfpack”’will have two generations of lead drummers performing side by side.
ROOTS also secured several best costume awards heralding the fact that the group is one of the few that can do it all with innovative and unique costume engineering, such as “Gold’s 3D building and designs with the use of cake boxes. The group was also the forerunner in bringing fluidity and movement to the larger costumes with the introduction of aluminum rods and that finished touch to the costumes with all type feather usage. Over the years “Gold”, “Dribbs” and “Les” have mentored quite a few promising talents. Youthful, but skilled builders such as Clinton Paul and Leonard Cumberbatch, “Lenny” have taken over a significant chunk of the design and construction load taken to parades in recent years. They are children of the technological age and so strive to bring improvements and upgrades to their field; making costumes lighter and more comfortable as well as inventive, original and artful. They have inspired others so “Jay” and “ have joined the ranks of the gods, empowering themselves as they design, build, paste, decorate and carry their own “Big Dancer” costumes. ROOTS even boasts conoursiers of design and pasting such as the infamous Jim Brown, lead piece master.
Even the group’s ‘naked’ dancers are world renown and are regular winners for performance and presentation.
The group is famous for yet another aspect of Junkanoo and that is it’s choreograph dance troupe, better known as SHOWTIME; led by Carolyn Vogt, dance and production extraordinaire, for the first seven years, ROOTS’ dancers have set a pace unmatched by any - crowd pleasers. The group holds the record for the largest choreograph section on the road, some 60-100 women and has led the pack with innovative techniques where traditional dance and stage production have been intertwined and adapted to “the rush”. The group has even had drill corps performing flag routines.
Today’s core of dancers, presently led by a committee of three, Tedi Cartwright, Karin Pinder and Clarisse Taylor maintain a smaller, more cohesive, disciplined and synchronized unit with a strong background in basic dance, jazz and ethnic, and a love for performance. The young women are encouraged to act with maturity, grace and style. In the new millennium, SHOWTIME’S objective is to develop only Y2K ready ladies and so as expected some of them like one of our youngest Toya already exhibit’s the qualities, attitude and aptitude to run SHOWTIME in the near future.
ROOTS is also one of the few groups where gender is not an issue. Females are being encouraged to step into the echelons of a male dominated arena. In fact, the group’s constitution is geared toward equality and mutual respect for all. Females are welcomed warmly and guided in the arts of Junkanoo, both the technical and theoretic and urged to take on administrative roles in the group. Although there is an inherent thread of gallantry and cosseting running through the air, by no means are the women involved limited to dance. With female marshals, bellers, brass and even a junior builder, Tedi, to boast of, ROOTS finds itself a revolutionary in a antiquated forum.
Another facet of society embraced by the group is our nation’s youth. To date, ROOTS boasts one of the youngest average ages of the major Junkanoo groups. These young people are nurtured, education is advocated and skills and training are mandatory. The group is so committed to youth development that we have initiated a scholarship program and workshops this year to student members of the group. Group practices and other activities are scheduled around the school calendar. Babies are a norm throughout the group on any parade” dancing on air” in their miniature costumes with a vibrancy and zeal unrivalled by any adult. But youth pervades all aspects of the group as our latest claim to fame is a thirteen year old, frontline beller. The ROOTS family endeavors to direct our young through the maze of pubescent delirium and give them an interest which teaches them skills such as drum making, costume design, pasting, as well as, the mandatory instrument usage. Activity which is ultimately a deterrent to delinquency and the social experience to develop oneself into a responsible adult who can take a drawing board costume to it’s finished product, are the rare opportunities given to some youth which help them to prove themselves worthy and capable of careers and the job market. The group takes pride in aiding their maturity.
ROOTS has also since inception been perceived as an elite group, although until this year there were no restrictions upon membership. The 50% of ROOTS members who are working adults are trained professionals, managers and entrepreneurs who take great pains to encourage others to fight for their dreams. We have a NO TOLERANCE policy for loitering and debasement.
Leroy “Tinkle” Hanna, former Chairman of the National Junkanoo Committee has been known to say “ROOTS…..shacks are in safe areas..”. The group prides itself on its renown safe environ where young people flourish and females feel free to interact and participate. The Group’s first practice site was the Columbus Primary School grounds as it’s main shack was initially located on Wulff Road. Today, ROOTS sets up shop on Celery Drive, off Baillou Hill Road, where a newly granted governmental lease provides the site for a planned Junkanoo Village; our major project for this decade, an Art and Community Centre. But, for now one can find us at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre every Sunday afternoon from 4pm, where hundreds partake of our safe, well managed family gathering, the RUSH AFFAIR” which leads into “The Big Show”. These practices have become an institution for families where the babies of the Bahamas embrace this indigenous, cultural phenomenon.
The Group has some major international achievements over the years as well. We accompanied the Prime Minister of the Bahamas on a Tourism Promotional Tour in 1992 through four U.S. states, including Washington D.C. , the capitol. In 1993, ROOTS went to Pleasure Island, Disney World to perform. ROOTS, also performed for the Superstars including the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson and some 100 other celebrities at the fantastic opening of our largest hospitality property, the tourism giant, ATLANTIS Resort and Casino, Paradise Island, in 1998. In 2001, ROOTS did three major firsts; they were invited to Tampa, Florida to perform for VIPs of Superbowl 35. The performance was so striking that it was televised on screen in the stadium for thousands to see. Then to top off the trip, an invitation came to do a clip for the 11am show for WTVJ NBC 6 in Miami, Florida. The 5 minute clip became a half hour show which featured the group. The studio was stupefied. The performance was electric and captivating and some 7 million viewers were “blown away”. In August, ROOTS sent a strong contingent with an ALL-STAR grouping to the World Games in Edmonton, Canada. This experience was one for all Bahamians to be proud of as we took our country’s indigenous cultural experience to the world stage. It was infectious, captivating and enervating as tired athletes and the millions of spectators fell head over heels for JUNKANOO.
ROOTS has even had the temerity and confidence in the past to welcome novices to take part in the competition of the annual parades. Costumes were made and our nations visitors were welcomed to participate. This action shows the true measure of the group’s belief that Junkanoo is an experience for all; a sharing of love, comradery and well-being. We welcome all to our family and even if you are a little intimidated by the view from the outside, log on and come into our home where warmth greets you at
WWW.ROOTSJUNKANOO.COM
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ROOTS continues to increase in strength and magnitude, even though two smaller groups have developed from this mother, Barabbas and the Tribe and Colors. Performance and presentation are constantly being enhanced by technology and exposure to other cultures and festivals. ROOTS, never a novelty always a phenomenon continues to step out front and be the forerunner for new sounds and fantastic costuming. We do all of this for Junkanoo aficionados, ROOTS fans and the Bahamas our country.
Roots first appeared in 1991
a Bahamian Tradition
A group of young men are working furiously in the hot shed. Hanging in the air like a blanket is the almost unbearable heat and the smell of contact cement.
Despite the heat and closeness, the mood is light. There are jokes and loud laughter as nimble fingers manipulate shears, cardboard, glue, wire and styrofoam spread all around them. Everywhere cardboard and styrofoam are taking on lifelike shapes, then covered with multicolored paper and sparkle. Who are these people? What are they doing? They are, if you please, the brains behind the costumes of the Shell Saxon Superstars Junkanoo group.
Most of them have never had any formal art training, but are still considered among the best artists in the country. They are working on a six-month project that takes them away from their families, jobs and most social activities. They are preparing for Junkanoo.
Junkanoo is a Bahamian festival of dancing, costumes and the music of goat skin drums, cowbells, and horns. It is but a fragment of an almost forgotten African ancestry. Junkanoo is the closet most Bahamian will get to the culture of their African heritage.
The men and women of the Saxons are keeping this Junkanoo culture alive with the same unbending determination as many other Junkanoo groups in the country. But the Saxons, with membership numbering in the tens of thousands, are special for some very special reasons.
For thousands of Bahamians, the Saxons represent a culture unto themselves. Recruiting many of their numbers from Mason’s Addition and the surrounding grass root areas, the group exemplifies an identity of pride and belonging.
A typical example is veteran drummer Anthony Green Senior. Green is a long-time resident of Mason’s Addition. For him there is no social activity more important than his involvement with the Saxons. For as long as he can remember, he has been a part of the group, traveling with them living among them.
Over the years, Green has impressed upon his family the pride of belonging to the Saxons. Today at 40 something and a grandfather, Green still retains the Saxons fire; only now the fire has spread over his entire household.
For Green his wife and four children, they are a part of the Saxons and the Saxons are a part of them. Simply put, said Green “I’ve always been a Saxon and I will die a Saxon.”
This is what being a Saxon is all about, achieving great prestige as a member of a team which would likely be out of reach for the individual. Being a Saxon is as real as any other “over-the-hill” experience can get.
Over-the-hill or not the leadership and ranks of the Saxons are bulging with professionals and intellectuals. There is Dr. Philip Thompson, Chief Surgeon at the Princess Margaret Hospital. There is Jackson Burnside a gifted American trained architect, and there is Dr. Emmanuel Francis a dentist, who makes a smooth transition from the dentist office to Junkanoo dancer, and there are numerous other examples: Teachers engineers, bankers and brokers.
Professional or not, educated or not each member of the Saxons has a specific role to fill. Working side by side, the same loyalty is expected of everyone and each person is expected to carry his load.
Although the group origin is grass root, hopefuls come from all social, economic and racial backgrounds vying for a chance to “rush” with the mighty Saxons. What they discover, if they are accepted is a highly-disciplined, tightly-knit and structured organization. If a member cannot submit to the group’s codes of conduct, he is asked to leave.
Administration of the Saxons is controlled by an executive council. Council members include Jackson Burnside, Dr. Emmanuel “Manny” Francis, Dr. Philip Thompson, Arthur Gibson, Silbert Ferguson, Hubert Chipman, Trevor “Bubbles” Decosta, Willis “Koolaid” Bain and Bernard Davis.
Unchallenged as head of the Council and leader of the Saxons is Percy “Vola” Francis. Often called the King of the Saxons, Vola is a gifted artist, entrepreneur, charismatic showman and giant personality. He has lead the Saxons for almost three decades and is widely regarded as a Bahamian folk hero.
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a Historical Perspective
There is no doubt about it. Junkanoo has evolved into our “Super Bowl” of the Bahamas. Due to the participation of all the current groups, there is no local event that matches it in terms of intense preparation, spirited competition, media hype and spectacular color and performances.
That was not always the case, for at one time Junkanoo was not widely accepted. Participation and attendance was sparse and while the costumes of long fringes and tossil hats exhibited color, there was no true artistic content.
In 1958, a visionary in the form of Winston “Gus” Cooper formed a Junkanoo group along with friends from the Centreville area of New Providence, all mere teenagers at the time. Ms. Gwen Fountain, mother of one of the members was employed with Malcolm’s Garage and obtained sponsorship for the small group in the amount of fifteen pounds for the Boxing Day parade. The group received a consolation prize.
In 1959, Gus’s recruitment efforts continued and he attracted Doyle Burrows and Edward Fritzgerald two personalities who contributed significantly to the group’s initial stability and growth. In fact Doyle’s brother Deyanza, gave the group its name The Valley Boys, as the area from which the group originated was “a valley” between three hills, Centreville, Hawkins and Sears Addition hills.
The late Mr. Lenny Bartlett was an invaluable source of ideas and design concepts for Gus. He encouraged the use of crepe rather than tissue paper cut into three strips, for costumes and also advised on construction techniques.
The structure was established for The Valley Boys and at the Boxing Day 1960 parade, the group got its first taste of many victories with its theme Scottish Highlanders. With this victory, the group had changed the face of Junkanoo forever by cementing in the minds of competitors and judges alike the theme concept in Junkanoo, the artistic nature of crepe paper, and dance and performance movements, never before witnessed on the parade route.
The Valley Boys 1960 victory attracted the attention of others. Fr. Michael Eldon of St. George’s Church in the “heart of the Valley” (now retired Bishop) took a keen interest in the group. Gus’s attendance at St. John’s College resulted in the recruitment of other young men like Brian Gibson and Winston Sherman who eventually left to form The Vikings, which was a Junkanoo power in the 1960’s. This period however marked the growing broad acceptance of Junkanoo to the general populace as the Valley Boys was a group dominated by young men, all in high school.
In the early years as the Valley Boys were developing, another powerful organization, the Pioneers Sporting Club grew out of the bowels of the Valley and St. George’s Church. This track and field club was integrally linked to The Valley Boys, in that it had some of the very same members. Gus Cooper (Pioneers captain), Doyle Burrows, Perry Christie, Tommy Robinson, Ed Mcphee, Kenneth and Garth Darrel (deceased) and the late Fr. Dunstan Burrows, to name a few. All of these young men were prominent athletes in the 1960’s and there is no question that their discipline to train, spirit to compete and will to win automatically and positively influenced their approach to Junkanoo. The motto of the Pioneers was Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus (We came, We Saw, We Conquered). This grouping of Pioneers/Valley Boys took that same passion to Junkanoo competition, fueling a participatory and winning record for the Valley Boys that is unrivaled.
If one were to track the personal development of so much of the young men who have been “touched” by the Valley Boys, particularly in the early years, one would find that they are well adjusted responsible individuals who have attained a reasonable level of personal achievement on our society. This kind of bonding is not easy for today’s youth. The thrust of our Cultural Centre will therefore be to inject that guidance, camaraderie and discipline that once existed between young people growing up in our country’s neighborhoods.
The Valley Boy’s consistent winning performance is unmatched over the last forty years. It has either lead, influenced or enhanced all of the major artistic developments in Junkanoo, as the group reacts very quickly to the competition. In 1965 The Vikings theme, Hibiscus, introduced a design concept to Junkanoo of built-on additions to the pants and shirt. They won.
Gus Cooper was in University during those years and was unable to react to the competition with his own built-on design until 1967 with Birds and Bees. The Valley Boys won that parade and regained its prominence and the pants and shirt era had ended in Junkanoo. In 1969, with the costume Sun Gods, three members of the group, Paul “Dougie” Major, Peter “Gold” Turnquest and Montgomery “Gummy” Mackey decided to enlarge their costumes significantly over the basic design and they were put in front of the group. This was the advent of lead costume pieces. In 1978 the Valley Boys introduced a major brass section to the group, following the lead of the Music Makers Group who were so successful with it in changing the face of Junkanoo music. In the 1980’s, under the direction and creativity of Paul Knowles, the group introduced the “Showtime” concept to Bay Street, with choreographed female dancers, thus expanding the participation of women in Junkanoo. All of these innovations have made Junkanoo the colorful spectacle it is today.
The growth of Junkanoo has overtaken the infrastructure to accommodate it. There is a constant debate on whether the venue should be changed from Bay Street to another site due to the size of costumes and groups. This growth has also affected the nature of the type of costume design and construction areas (Junkanoo shacks) required by groups. The valley Boys have moved from a Junkanoo shack of a garage in 1958 to ad hoc warehouse styled locations throughout New Providence over the years. Our history now determines that we have our own “home”, to continue to enrich our Junkanoo heritage as we approach the new millennium and our fifth decade of active participation.
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