Sokah2Soca

This Youtube video clip of the Lord Kitchener's Moko Jumbies uses a photo taken from the published book "The Dancing Spirtis of Trinidad" that is available from Amazon.com at this link: Dancing Spirits of Trinidad.

You can also check the website website: www.stefanfalke.com

The art of stilt walking came from Africa... However, the moko jumbie is a West Indian character that flourished in the early years of carnival celebrations especially in the island of Trinidad. Now whenever someone says that Trinidad had something to do with something that is a part of the West Indian folklore then once again we have upheavel and talk about "Trini wants to claim everything as their own".

If I tell you that the Moko Jumbie came to life as part of the Trinidad Carnival and that "Trinidad Style Carnival" was copied and taken to the rest of the Caribbean, North America and even Africa then you will say that I am a mad man. However, remember I said Trinidad Style... pay attention my friend!

Walking on stilts came from Africa and can be found all over the Caribbean region. However, the very imaginative people of African decent living in Trinidad used their creativity to sprinkle style into the Moko (divine) Jumbie (ghost). The spirit of carnival, the joy of celebration in dance and the color and creativity of an opressed people gave birth to a divine spirit that watched over the villages from a higher vantage point than the mortal humans could.

The moko jumbie told the story of the divine spirit protecting the villages and in typical Trinidad style danced to the beat of the people. This music was that of drums and other traditional musical instruments. The Moke Jumbie is a very colorful character with bright satin colors used to ensure that he is seen from afar. Most Moko Jumbies are dressed in pants but there are also some who continue to wear long flowing skirts. In Trinidad most of the characters wear pants. During the Carnival celebration the Moko Jumbie would dance to any music played and long ago it was customary for the Moko Jumbie to collect monies for their efforts.

This Noggin video is one of my favorites and shows the influence and stamp of the people of Trinidad and Tobago on the Moko Jumbie.

There was a period in the history of Trinidad's carnival when the Moko Jumbie was seen throughout the island. Then there was a period when not only the Moko Jumbie but several aspects of the Trinidad Carnival 'disappeared'. This happened when the "Ole Mas" Competitions began to disappear from the 'Carnival Landscape'. Today there is a rebirth taking place with schools teaching the art of walking on stilts and dancing the jig once again. The book, 'MOKO JUMBIES: The Dancing Spirits of Trinidad'. is the work of one Stefan Falke when he came to Trinidad and followed the Keylemanjahro School of Arts and Culture founded by Glen "Dragon" de Souza who wanted to ensure that the art of the Moko Jumbie lived on. Today we also have Mr. Junior Bisnath and his southern Moko Jumbies coloring the cultural landscape with Moko Jumbies appearing in many culture pot events.

It does not matter what part of the Caribbean region you come from or if you believe that the Trinidadians got it wrong. The fact remains that the Moko (divine) Jumbie (ghost) is wataching over you and will protect you from evil. One of the problems I have noted is a lack of documentation in the various communities about the folklore. Many stories are told but then again fingers are always pointed at Trinidadians because we can boast of a historical record. It is important that we protect our heritage with documentation to avoid being put in a position to prove ourselves to anyone!