Afrofuturism is communicated via the Bahamian people through Junkanoo, a form of carnival in the Bahamas. Originally celebrated by those who were enslaved and given just Christmas Day and Boxing Day off, Junkanoo can be viewed as a form of resistance. We follow the ‘Shell Saxon Superstars’, a group of 1,500 people, as they come together in spectacular fashion to enact a politically motivated theme, asserting national pride or depicting other countries. We visit the shacks where the costumes are made to observe the craftsmanship and dedication required to win the parade and obtain ‘bragging rights’. Along with 16mm film images, a multi-layered soundtrack brings together samples and analogue sounds that include static and radio samples to obscure a seemingly obtainable message. Too often Sun Ra’s “Space is the Place” is co-opted to merely refer to space travel- bypassing its assertion of the power of Black culture. Actual space agency sounds - sounds which usually describe comets or space travel equipment like the Mars Rover- are juxtaposed with interviews with the Saxons. In so doing the work roots an Afrofuturist aesthetic with the Bahamian people.
Film / video · Film / video