St. John residents and visitors were in for a cultural treat on Saturday as organizers of the 4th Annual V.I. Folklife Festival brought music, dance and splendor to Franklin Powell Park. Spectators quickly filled the space around the park’s bandstand as the quelbe sounds of Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights filled the air.
AARP of the Virgin Islands hosted Saturday’s cultural fete. Associate State Director Pamela Toussaint pointed out that March is Virgin Islands History Month. “In collaboration with Dr. Stanley Jacobs of Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights and the Guardians of Culture, we are bringing a version of the folklife festival to St. John,” Toussaint said.
Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights are perhaps the most enduring performers of quelbe — the official traditional music of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The band — formed in 1970 — is now celebrating its 55th year.
Some who drew near to enjoy the tunes could not resist the urge to dance.
And they were not alone, as St. Croix’s Guardians of Culture moko jumbie troupe frolicked with the next generation moko jumbies led by Yisrael Petersen. Petersen is a culture bearer who learned the art in his youth from moko jumbie legend and former Senator Alvin Ali Paul.
They were also joined by St. John’s quadrille dancers performing a traditional version of square dancing.
Celebrations of U.S. folkways from different states and territories came together to form a national festival sponsored by the Smithsonian Museum in 1991. AARP member Jackie Clendinen shared a personal story about the efforts to bring local culture bearers to Washington, D.C. as part of the grand celebration.
The Guardians of Culture stayed in Cruz Bay for an added performance at the Light Up the Night Cancer Walk at the V.I. National Park Ballfield in the late afternoon. Hundreds of residents, business leaders and visitors joined in support of the annual fundraiser.
Events showcasing the territory’s talents and traditions have been seen in public celebrations at St. Croix’s Whim Museum. In addition, Fort Christian on St. Thomas welcomed the public to festival events over the weekend with exhibits and demonstrations taking place Friday through Sunday.
