Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2017 | Page 300

Black-painted bodies, faces at times almost indistinguishable under the black oil, a group of drum-beating, singing revelers - this is the Original Munich Jab Jab Band headed by Delroy McMillan. Jab Jab is part of the carnival festival held in Grenada during the 2nd week of August each year. This year, August 14th and 15th will resonate with music, competitions, pagaents, masquerades and yes, Jab Jab. Carnival Monday morning is where you’ll find the island’s various Jab Jab bands during the early morning J’ouvert street party. It marks the official start of two-days of intense festivities. The Original Munich Jab Jab will once again be participating in this year’s J’ouvert. If you’re thinking of visiting Grenada for this year’s carnival, and will like to ‘play Jab’, head over to the village of Munich in the parish of St. Andrew’s. Delroy’s group meets at Lower Munich at 4:00 am and heads to the city of Grenville. Along the route, they sing, chant, beat drums and try to hug “clean” people they meet along the way. As they progress, they are joined by spectators eager to be a part of this popular aspect of cultural expression, observed only once per year. There is friendly competition among the bands who are judged based on the largest band, the band which sings the loudest, the best drumming band and the band with the best banner. This year, Delroy’s will be portraying the banner. “Munich - World Jab, Local and International” which will be an apt heading as people will be travelling from the U.S., Canada and the U.K. to play Jab Jab with Delroy’s esteemed band this year. Not only is Delroy actively participating in this unique cultural expression on his home island of Grenada, but he is also sharing the culture in the city he currently lives in the U.S., and also travelling to carnivals throughout the U.S. to showcase Grenada’s Jab Jab. He is part of the Green House Jab Jab in Brooklyn, NY, a group of drummers all originally from Grenada, who are cultural ambassadors, spreading the Jab Jab culture wherever they can. Believed to have originated from West Africa, this aspect of Grenada’s Carnival is highly anticipated every year. In the minds of Grenadians, Carnival cannot exist without having Jab Jab in the J’ouvert presentations on Carnival Monday morning. It is the most popular of all the traditional mas’ played in Grenada. For more information on Munich Jab Jab, check out their Facebook page. Jab-Jab Delroy, on the left