Jonkonnu, (pronounced John Canoe) is an African American holiday celebration whose roots can be traced back to Jamaica and to the slave ships from West Africa. Historical records mention celebrations of Jonkonnu taking place near Edenton, North Carolina, as early as 1824. And, except for a single 19th-century historical reference to a Jonkonnu celebration in Suffolk, Virginia, historians have been unable to uncover any evidence that it was ever part of the culture in North America outside of North Carolina.

The celebration was brought back to life as part of a broad effort by the Tryon Palace staff to research the little-known history of African-Americans in New Bern.

So what, exactly, do visitors to Tryon Palace’s re-creation of Jonkonnu experience?

“They see a lot of different costumes – a ‘ragman’ wearing a costume made entirely of colorful rags that represent each family’s spirit, a ‘fancy man’ in formal attire who leads the singing, and many other men, women and children in colorful costumes who sing, dance and play drums,” says Sharon C. Bryant, Tryon Palace’s African American outreach coordinator.

“It’s a very lively celebration of African American culture,” Bryant says, “and you really have to be there because it becomes even more exciting when members of the audience join in the fun.”

Jonkonnu was invited to perform in the Governor’s Inaugural Parade in January 2009.

• Jonkonnu Brochure pdf file
  
  
• Days of Jubilee
  African Americans and the Reconstruction Era in Eastern NC
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