JUNKANEW is a carnival concept delivered by Global Carnivalz and its partners online. Post COVID the participating partners can tour in regional carnivals to encourage the use of environmentally friendly materials and non-motorised processions. The online experience offers viewers interaction with the host and opportunities to submit their own Junkanew products as part of the online Junkanew Challenge.
Having been involved with the Junkanoo Commandos in the Bahamas and various other Carnival practises, Global Carnivalz CEO Pax Nindi was inspired to initiate Junkanew referring to traditional Junkanoo culture practised in the Bahamas and Ghana. In order to make it relevant to the UK where Global Carnivalz is based, Junkanew will incorporate other carnival traditions e.g. Lanterns, Steelpan, Brass band, Blocos and Dance.
In the Bahamas and Ghana, Junkanoo as an event takes place on Christmas and Boxing Day involving participating groups marching in costumes accompanied by brass, drums and home-made percussion instruments. The costumes are created out of sustainable and recycled materials using, cardboard, wire, glue, tape, paint and environmentally friendly decorations. Presentation of music is not amplified or motorised and features home-made percussion, brass instruments and drums.
We believe Junkanew will play a role in encouraging the use of recycled materials in Carnival and similar arts. Practises. Among other things, our aim is to encourage the public to respect the environment by recycling in the form of taking junk and making into loveable new creations which can be used beyond Christmas and Boxing Day. BOXING DAY LAUNCH
Junkanew will be launched as a 6-hour livestream on Boxing Day 26th December 2020. Following that, throughout the year especially in school breaks, we will encourage people to continue using junk to make new things which will be showcased during public holidays and Christmas and Boxing Day being the climax of Junkanew.
From mid-December 2020 Global Carnivalz will be streaming once a week giving out information about Junkanoo, its partners, current and future interactions etc. The livestream on Boxing Day will include audience comments and reactions as we feature various films and conversations from participating partners.
2 WHY JUNKANEW?
Junkanew will allow Carnival artists to contribute towards sustainable projects and protect the planet
We are keen to get the public to engage in crafts, edutainment and fun brought to them for free in the comfort of their own homes via Junkanew.
We believe that Carnival artists, parents, carers and schools will gain skills and knowledge from this practise, new to UK. They will also benefit from these extra activities in and out of school.
This year there will be no Junkanoo in the Bahamas therefore most Caribbean Junkanoo fans will be looking for alternative Junkanoo and we are hoping this will be one of them considering the Junkanoo Commandos are key partners.
During the Christmas period, a lot of paper is thrown away after opening of gifts and we are therefore assuming that in future the public will get into the habit of creating new toys and things out of paper junk.
Once the pandemic is over, we plan to run six Junkanoo projects as prep for Christmas and interested participants and partners will be part of the Junkanew tours in UK carnivals in order to share and encourage sustainability in Carnival arts. PRE JUNKANEW
Working with partners, Global Carnivalz is preparing instruction videos to be shared online prior to Boxing Day to encourage public engagements. Contents of these include:
1. How to make a miniature costume using cardboard 2. How to make lanterns and decorating. 3. How to make a drum 4. Playing Brass and percussion for parades
Other Junkanew actions include:
• Production of a Junkanew music track to be used as 2020 theme tune shared online and to participants. • Secure any further partners needed. • Set up a system to upload and download submissions • Call out for people to participate in the project • Publicity to gather entries and for publicising the event. • Filming and editing of Boxing Day contents. • Finalise Boxing Day Programme.
3 THE JUNKANEW CHALLENGE
COSTUME MAKING AND MATERIALS
We are encouraging individuals or groups/family to make home-made costumes using recycled materials which will be part of the entries in the Junkanew Challenge as long any of them have used recycled materials. If making a large or miniature costume we recommend the use of cardboard, paper, wires, tape, glue and paint.
For a number of reasons, we do not encourage the use of feathers and similar materials. If decorating with feathers, we would encourage/ask you to confirm that, feathers are being used as a small part of the overall costume or design. Entries will not be accepted if feathers or non-sustainable materials make up more than 10% of any entry or design.
MUSIC
Musicians are welcome to submit carnival and Junkanoo oriented music which can be played on a procession without amplification. They can then post their entry to the project and the best one will be further developed for 2021 Junkanew or other activities relating to Junkanew.
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREE
We are encouraging the public to make a Christmas Tree out of the recommended material, big or small. They are also encouraged to display them and take a photo or video clip to be uploaded so they can also be discussed and judged on the day.
SUBMISSION AND AWARDS
Once participants have done their creations, they are all encouraged to photograph or film the results and mail to Global Carnivalz to be part of the Junkanew Challenge. These will be shown live on Boxing Day and audiences will be able to interact with the host as each entry is discussed. There will be Awards for best entries selected online via public polling.
Further updates and information will be available on;
www.junkanew.uk
4 JUNKANEW PARTNERS
Whilst the Caribbean and African Junkanoo incorporates recycled cardboard made costumes and marching bands, Junkanew will have a slight twist to match UK weather and art forms.
Since the idea is to tour with participating groups, current partners have been chosen bearing the touring element in mind. Current partners are, Junkanoo Commandos (Bahamas), Noble Number One (Ghana), Nostalgia Steelband (London) Cowley Road Carnival (Oxford UK), , CAMF(UK), Kinetika Bloco, Hackney Carnival (UK) and Taru Arts(London/Brazil), Continental Drifts(UK) and Soca News.
Junkanew will continue seeking relevant partners for participation, management, sponsorship, education, carnival arts and invite anyone interested and able to accept our aims and ethos.
Junkanew partners who can manage the proposed tours and collaborations will be encouraged to take part in the tours at agreed time scale and fees. If you were not approached but are interested, please write us with details of who you are and why you want to be part of this exciting Junkanew project to; [email protected] PARTNERS’ ACTIVITIES
Activity Partner
Processing and costume making the Bahamas way Junkanoo Commandos
Playing live on procession the African way Nobles Number 1 Ghana
Playing live on procession the Caribbean way Nostalgia Steel Band
Playing live on procession the Brazilian Bloco way Kinetika Bloco
Lantern making Cowley Road Carnival
Christmas Tree making the Junkanew way Global Carnivalz freelance artists
Instrument making using recycled material Taru Arts
Publicity and Media coverage Soca News and Global Carnivalz
London Carnival groups input Hackney Carnival
Incorporation other Caribbean Junkanoo practises CAMF (Notting Hill Carnival)
Future Tours and Bookings Continental Drifts and Global Carnivalz Agency
5 POST JUNKANEW 2020
We believe Christmas encourages more cutting down of trees and this project aims to save trees by encouraging people to create their own home-made Junkanew trees during the festive.
We are sure after the COVID situation this will be a way for most of the carnival groups to contribute towards saving the environment and also have another carnival to work on after their summer parades.
Once the pandemic is over, we will continue running the project in the community and schools to prepare material for Christmas and interested participants and partners will be part of the Junkanew tours in UK carnivals which will allow us to share and encourage sustainability in Carnival arts.
JUNKANEW TEAM CONTACT
Project Director – Pax Nindi FRSA (Global Carnivalz CEO)
Project Coordinator – Sherrell Davenport (Global Carnivalz Board Member)
Resident Artist – Steve Newell (Global Carnival Board Director) c/o Global Carnivalz Limited, Bahamas Junkanoo Commandos – Angelique McKay 71-75 Shelton Road, (Commandos Director) Covent Garden, Ghana Nobles Number Junkanoo Group – Barbara Nyanko (Director) London WC2NH9JQ
Filming, Evaluation and Livestreaming (Ashanti Nindi (Global Phone: +44 (0)7810 874 276. Carnivals Digital Team) Email; [email protected] Artists participation on crafts, costumes, alternative Junkanew Christmas Tree etc (Global Carnival artists – e.g. Helen Davenport and Stephen Newell) www.junkanew.uk
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