By Janice Robinson-Celeste, Publisher, Successful Black Parenting Magazine

Press trip hosted by Atlantis Paradise Island and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. Opinions are my own.

Part Two of a Three-Part Series

Thanks to our generous hosts at Atlantis Paradise Island and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, we had the chance to explore more than the resort’s turquoise waters and luxurious amenities. They wanted us to experience the heart of Bahamian culture beyond the beaches. That’s how we found ourselves at the Junkanoo Museum in Nassau, a place bursting with rhythm, history, and creativity that beats at the core of the islands’ identity.

This story is part two of our exclusive Atlantis series for Successful Black Parenting Magazine. If you missed part one, Atlantis Adventure: Paradise Found — The Ultimate Family Vacation, you can read it here to discover what makes Atlantis Paradise Island the ultimate family getaway. Stay tuned for part three, Inside the Michael Jackson Suite — The Royal Side of Atlantis, where we take you inside one of the most iconic hotel suites in the world.

When you visit the Junkanoo Museum in Nassau, you don’t just learn about a festival. You feel it. The rhythm, the color, the history, and the pride. Junkanoo isn’t just a parade. It’s the heartbeat of the Bahamas, a living tribute to the ancestors who danced, drummed, and celebrated freedom even when freedom was only a dream.

A Childhood Home Turned Cultural Treasure

The Junkanoo Museum is located inside the childhood home of Arlene Nash Ferguson, whose life story is woven into the fabric of Bahamian culture.

Arlene began dancing in Junkanoo when she was just four years old, and today her home stands as a joyful monument to that legacy. Walking through the museum feels like stepping into a celebration. Bright costumes, the sound of drums, and the ringing of cowbells fill the air.

Each artifact has a story, from the first goat-skin drums to the handmade horns used during the festival.

Arlene explained that the goat-skin drum and cowbell symbolize the ancestors, calling families to remember their roots.

The History Behind the Beat

Junkanoo dates back more than 200 years, to a time when enslaved Africans in the Bahamas were granted three days of rest during Christmas. During those days, they celebrated life through music, dance, and art, telling their children, “Never forget where you come from.” Because reading was forbidden under slavery, people used scraps of paper and cardboard symbols of literacy denied to create something powerful. They transformed newspapers into art, gluing and shaping them into elaborate costumes. Those paper designs became acts of quiet rebellion and creativity, honoring a culture that refused to be silenced.

Building the Spirit of Junkanoo

Each Junkanoo costume begins with scraps of cardboard and contact cement. The artists, known as builders, gather in small wooden shacks to design themes and plan their creations. Every curve, feather, and swirl of color is handcrafted. Some costumes weigh as much as 70 pounds, yet when the dancers hit the streets, they move with the grace of freedom itself.

The music is always live, never piped in from trucks or speakers. Drummers beat their goat skins in rhythm with the cowbells, conch shells, and whistles that fill the air. It’s not just a performance, it’s a spiritual experience. Before the parade begins, groups come together in unity and excitement. Someone calls out, “Who we is?” and the team roars back, “We are Junkanoo!” Then comes the signature bark, “Woof! Woof!”—a centuries-old ritual that energizes the performers before they dance through the night.

“Who we is?” and the team roars back, “We are Junkanoo!”

The Costumes Made From Scraps

Inside the Junkanoo Museum’s workshop, I learned that every breathtaking costume starts from the simplest beginnings. Before a single feather or jewel is added, artists begin with a cardboard base. Sheets of scrap cardboard are cut, bent, and glued together with contact cement to form intricate shapes that will later come alive with color and texture. From this humble foundation, the true magic of Junkanoo begins to take form.

Junkanoo has always been rooted in resourcefulness and ingenuity. In the early days, Bahamian artists created costumes from whatever they could find, rags, newspapers, and crepe paper, turning discarded materials into elaborate expressions of identity and pride. Inside the museum, I saw these vintage pieces displayed side by side: one suit stitched together from tattered rags, another crafted from folded newspapers, and a third decorated with layers of bright crepe paper. These fragile artifacts tell the story of a people who refused to let scarcity silence their creativity.

One of my favorite displays was a costume made from natural sea sponges, an ingenious use of the ocean’s bounty. Nearby, a clever design called “Cereal Killer” made me laugh out loud. It was built entirely from recycled cereal boxes. Next to it stood another costume made from shredded paper, each strip shimmering like confetti. Together, these pieces prove that Junkanoo is not just about spectacle; it’s about imagination, humor, and sustainability.

Every Junkanoo troupe builds its collection around a theme, a unifying idea that ties each costume together. Some themes celebrate historical moments or honor ancestors; others highlight community stories or simply capture the joy of island life. Builders, known locally as “shackers,” spend months preparing for the annual parade, often working late into the night, cutting, gluing, and painting. The process is messy, colorful, and filled with laughter. But when the final costume is finished, it’s nothing short of spectacular.

The artistry of Junkanoo is a celebration of the transformation of turning junk into joy, cardboard into beauty, and community into art. Every cut, curl, and splash of color carries the heartbeat of the Bahamas, proof that creativity can rise from the simplest of materials and shine just as bright as gold.

This story is part two of our exclusive Atlantis series for Successful Black Parenting Magazine. If you missed part one, Atlantis Adventure: Paradise Found — The Ultimate Family Vacation, you can read it here to discover what makes Atlantis Paradise Island the ultimate family getaway. Read part three, Inside the Michael Jackson Suite — The Royal Side of Atlantis, where we take you inside one of the most iconic hotel suites in the world.

A Family Tradition That Lives On

Junkanoo is more than an event. It’s a community. Inside the museum, there’s a classroom upstairs where children can make their own paper hats, learning the same techniques their ancestors used. Families often host Junkanoo-themed weddings and events here, surrounded by color, rhythm, and pride.

As Arlene says, “You don’t just watch Junkanoo—you become part of it.” And she meant it. During my visit, I got to do something I’ll never forget: I became a certified Bahamian Junkanoo. I danced, I played the cowbell, and I earned my certificate with pride. For that moment, I wasn’t just visiting Bahamian culture. I was living it.

The Meaning of Junkanoo Today

What moved me most was how Junkanoo Bahamas culture connects to the broader African diaspora. It reminded me of our own cultural celebrations back home at HBCU homecomings, Mardi Gras, and African American parades filled with music, dance, and pride. Junkanoo is proof that no matter where we are, our rhythm survives. It’s a bridge between past and present, linking us through joy, creativity, and remembrance.

For Black families traveling to the Bahamas, a visit to the Junkanoo Museum is more than sightseeing. It’s soul-sighting. It’s a chance to connect with history, celebrate creativity, and leave feeling uplifted and proud. As I walked away, the sound of goat-skin drums echoed in my mind. It wasn’t just noise. It was the pulse of a people who refused to be forgotten.

Our cultural adventure through Junkanoo was made possible by Atlantis Paradise Island and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, who ensured our family-friendly press trip included a glimpse into the soul of the Bahamas. From the museum’s vibrant costumes to the joyful spirit of its people, this experience reminded us that travel isn’t just about the destination; it’s about connection, creativity, and community. If you loved this cultural deep dive, don’t miss Part Three: Inside the Michael Jackson Suite — The Royal Side of Atlantis, coming soon to Successful Black Parenting Magazine.

Disclosure: This trip was hosted by Atlantis Paradise Island and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. Travel expenses and accommodations were provided, but all opinions, experiences, and recommendations expressed here are entirely my own.