Bunce Gal

“Bunce Gal”, painting by Alton R. Lowe

This little girl put a big smile on my face when I saw her parading down the street on Green Turtle Cay New Year’s Day many years ago. Self-confident, saucy and proud, she looks out at the viewer with a beguiling glance that would win over anyone. She stands there with cowbells in each hand ready to march in the annual parade.

I called the painting “Bunce Gal” because I wanted to draw the viewer’s attention to another part of the New Year’s tradition of Junkanoo. As some of you know, Bunce was a uniquely Green Turtle Cay event. While it has been largely absorbed by Junkanoo today, at one time capturing “monsters” coming from Great Abaco Island, putting them in a wheelbarrow, covering them with sailcloth, and then wheeling them around the village while telling tall tales of their nefarious deeds was great fun for everyone. (The “monsters” were usually two local men dressed up to scare the children.)

From time to time the monsters would leap from the wheelbarrow and chase the children who would run screaming and yelling to the protection of their parents and friends. All in fun, of course. Hopefully, the Bunce tradition will continue to add to the festivities as we celebrate the beginning of each new year on Green Turtle Cay. - Alton