"Johnkankus"
© Meg Greene Malvasi
It is December 25th, Christmas day, sometime in
the early nineteenth century. Throughout slave communities of the South there is much excitement and activity stirring. Children jump out of their beds in anticipation of the day's festivities. Mothers and fathers bustle about, taking advantage of the day off from work to rest and enjoy time with their family and friends.
Everyone, though, is waiting for the signal that something special is about to happen. They strain their eyes trying to be the first to spot the lookout running down the lane and shouting for all to hear: "The Johnkankus is a-comin'! The Johnkankus is a-comin'!" That is the signal for adults and children to come out of their houses and line up along the road. Soon the air is vibrating with the sound of drums beating, horns blowing, bones or sticks clicking, and bells ringing. Everyone is waiting to see the Johnkankus.
Many historians consider the Johnkankus, or "Christmas Masquerade," celebration to be the first African-American festival and tradition to take place in the United States. Originating along the West Coast of Africa, the Johnkankus was named after a powerful ancient African chieftain known in legend as John Conny. African slaves brought the ceremony with them to the West Indies and later to the Americas. In time, the Johnkankus became an annual tradition in many slave communities throughout the Western hemisphere.
Johnkankus was a festive occasion, often attracting up to one hundred participants. Using their creativity, the slaves fashioned beautifully decorated costumes from recycled rags and debris found about the plantation, or from odds and ends given to them by the master or mistress. Topping off these unique garments were equally distinctive masks also made from recycled materials. Often the masks took the form of animals or birds. For many a slave child, the memory of the colorful costumes combined with its mysterious masks was a sight they never forgot.
Leading the procession was the Johnkankus himself. Most of the time, men took on the role, though there were a few instances in which a woman was the Johnkankus. As the parade moved throughout the slave quarters, acrobats, their elaborate costumes swirling about them, entertained the audience with their antics. The other "Koners" danced and sang special "John Connu" songs, which were always inventive, often humorous, and sometimes offered criticism of slavery or the master or both. One such song, for example, gently reminded masters and slaves alike that generosity defined the true spirit of Christmas:
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