Moko Jumbie

In West African folktales, moko jumbies were revered as guardians and "dancing spirits," towering protectors who used their great height to ward off evil and foresee approaching danger before it reached the village. The memory of these mythical beings survived the trials of slavery and colonial efforts to suppress African religious customs and symbols. "Moko" is the African name for the Orisha (or god) of fate and retribution, while "jumbie," meaning "ghost," was later added by freed slaves in Trinidad.

After emancipation in the mid-19th century, the moko jumbie reemerged, reinvented as a Carnival masquerade figure. Their towering wooden stilts were hidden by long, brightly colored trousers or skirts, complemented by an elaborate jacket, feathered hat, and white mask. Accompanied by a drum played by an escort, the moko jumbie would dance a lively jig, hopping from one leg to another while collecting money from onlookers watching the festivities from the upper balconies of Port of Spain’s old townhouses.

Today, moko jumbies—often children and teenagers who learn to balance on stilts from a young age—may not fully grasp the deep cultural significance of their performance. The traditional costume is sometimes simplified, but the spirit of the moko jumbie lives on. Despite challenges like fear of heights, overhanging electricity cables, and the absence of insurance coverage, moko jumbies continue to walk tall at carnivals around the world, their presence a testament to the enduring power of this ancient tradition.