Moko Jumbie Dancers at Leveric Bay

Moko Jumbie Dancers at Leveric Bay Marina on one of Liberté's stops.

Mocko Jumbie, the traditional symbol of Carnival, is the "elevated spirit" on 10 to 20 foot stilts, dressed in bright colors that you see throughout the parade. The stilt dancer is a traditional folk character that was originally brought from West Africa. They recall images of tall robed figures moving through the dark African night, to strike terror into the hearts of those who did wrong. The word "Moko" is derived from the name of a West African God and "jumbie" or "ghost" was added by liberated slaves after Emancipation. On stilts that ranged between 10 to 15 feet high (often brightly painted in stripes) the Moko wore long full skirts or pants, a brightly colored satin or velvet jacket and an elaborate admiral's hat topped by plumes. This costume was a reaction to the Western influence.

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