For the first time in St. Martin, Moko jumbies and the art of stilt walking, symbol of an Afro-Caribbean heritage, will be showcased on the occasion of an unprecedented event. The Moko Fest, carried out by the Funtopia non-profit organization, will take place on Saturday July 3rd in the Emilio Wilson Park.
It has been 8 years now that the Funtopia organization, involved in projects for the youth, has been developing the art of stilt walking on the territory. Since 2014, it has been offering classes in primary schools of Sint Maarten to teach children how to walk on stilts. Originally, this art, called “moko”, is supposed to have come from West Africa and to have been brought to the Caribbean by deported slaves. The moko jumbie, the dancer, wears a costume and a carnival mask. The origin of the word comes from “moko”, an African term for God, and “jumbi” a Caribbean term for ghost or spirit. Widespread since the 1900’s in Trinidad and Tobago in festivals and celebrations such as the Carnival, Moko art was also present in St. Martin, despite a lack of written evidence. “We are in the process of documenting all of this little by little and of finding out a part of our history”, Lucinda Audain, president of the Funtopia organization explains. “In the salt marshes, workers would use the stilts to move around more freely.”
MAKE ONE'S OWN HISTORY
Now, Lucinda Audain would like to transmit this culture to the public at large and this African spirituality that are closely linked to Saint-Martin and St. Maarten but which still scare part of the population. Thanks to the lessons in schools and to the creation of the Moko Fest “we are making our own history”, Funtopia’s president thinks. A Hundred of participants from the Soualigan Giants troupe will climb on stilts during the festival next July 3rd, including 2 professional stilt walkers coming from Trinidad. Workshops will be offered for those who will wish to learn this art. In parallel, many animations will be organized in the Emilio Wilson park around the Afro punk culture: art exhibitions, musical performances, booths of African and Caribbean culinary specialties, handicraft, fashion… A special area for health and well-being will welcome yoga and zumba sessions, and natural products selling booths. Frames will be set up to allow people to snap pictures of themselves, similar to what the Cole Bay selfie museum offers. A kid zone will be dedicated to children, allowing parents to fully enjoy this unique cultural and artistic day.
Moko Fest :
Sunday July 3rd, 8am-8pm
Emilio Wilson Park, Philipsburg
Facebook : @soualiganmokos
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