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