The Folklife Festival 2023 celebrated Virgin Islands Culture at the Estate Whim Museum. The two-week festival organized by the legendary Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights is a series that celebrates and promotes the rich culture of the Virgin Islands through food, dance, history, and music.
On Saturday, the Folklife Festival gathered about 100 people for workshops that incorporated storytelling, moko jumbies, quadrille/maypole dancing, cariso singing/drumming, Crucian cooking, and woodworking. Vendors, families, and other visitors enjoyed an afternoon of workshops.
Cariso singer Cedelle Petersen shared melodic memories of the Virgin Islands’ past under a huge tree. Cariso is a form of communication that was done secretly so that slave masters would not understand.
Soon after, Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies founder Willard John shared the history of the moko jumbies. He said, “Their costumes covered their bodies completely. The reason being if you are representing a higher power, you need not see the human behind.”
John said the authentic African drum music that the moko jumbies danced to serve three important roles. First, it was a means of spiritualism, second a means of communication, and third a means of entertainment. After the Guardians of Culture performed, they allowed participants to join in and also take pictures.
Meanwhile, over in the “cookhouse” Rena Francis prepared some mouthwatering fungi, sardines, and pigtail souse.
The Folklife Festival continues until July 3 with workshops and other fun cultural events scheduled.
The Estate Whim Museum is known for its colonial great house, granny house exhibit, cookhouse, sugar mill, and other exhibits.
