An examination of Jonkunnu's evolution has led
to the discovery of several characters, some of which are no longer in
existence today. Jonkunnu characters vary from one part of the island to
another. The origin of many of these Post Emancipation figures emerged from
the local environment that included both African and Caribbean influences.
These characters are as dynamic and diverse as the Jamaican people and our
cultural heritage.
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Pitchy
Patchy |
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Perhaps
the most popular Jonkunnu character today is Pitchy-Patchy.
He is dressed in shredded strips of cloth bearing bright
colours. He appears in a square hat or a feathered cap adorned
with tinsel and mirrors. Cultural Consultant, Cheryl Ryman
describes this figure as "a ghost from the past" -
becoming all things to all people - ever changing, ever constant
- wearing multi coloured attire yet changing his headdress on
different occasions.
He often runs in
and out of the crowd of spectators sometimes confronting
them with a loud growl. According to oral tradition,
Pitchy-Patchy's costume is the same vegetal type that was used
by the Maroons as camouflage during warfare.
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Another central player in Jonkunnu
parades is Koo-Koo or Actor Boy. This figure appears as a
remnant of the selfstyled actor groups, who appeared in 1825. He
is flamboyantly dressed in silk, satin and lace frills and
finery, and with a long, loose jacket falling over a huge skirt.
He wears long curls, which fall over a small facemask and a
headdress comprising mirrors, feathers, jewels and coloured
beads. Actor Boy has a majestic gait and usually swings his whip
as he goes along. This character tends to emphasize pantomime,
music and dance and represents the long history of
Jamaican theatre and our love for the theatrical.
Both our African and British
traditions associate Actor Boy with the theme of death and
resurrection.
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Koo-Koo /
Actor Boy |
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