The Caribbean Ritual Dancers performed traditional African and Bambula dances during the 2025 Ten Sleepless Knights Folklife Festival on St. Thomas, captivating audiences with vibrant movements and rhythmic drumming.
Over the weekend, the 2025 Ten Sleepless Knights Folklife Festival on St. Thomas thrilled attendees with scintillating cultural performances, featuring moko jumbies and dancers.
After a long day of workshops, Saturday's theme was Mokolution: The Evolution of the Moko Jumbies. Striding tall among the seated audience, the moko jumbies entertained with feats of dexterity and skill, dancing as they perched on their stilts.
On Sunday night, attendees were treated to performances of African dances, as well as Bambula and Bomba dancing by two groups – Caribbean Ritual Dancers from St. Thomas, and Majestad Negra from Puerto Rico. Accompanied by ancestral melodies and rhythmic drumming, the dancers showcased the beauty of the territory's cultural movements.
The celebration of the Virgin Islands rich culture and history came just ahead of Monday's 108th anniversary of the territory's transfer from Danish to American rule; a reminder of the territory's unique identity which exists – and thrives – outside of technical questions of nationality.
This year's TSK Folklife Festival marks the 55th anniversary of the Ten Sleepless Nights, the territory's legendary quelbe band. After celebrations on St. Croix and the beginning of the month and St. Thomas this past weekend, St. John is set to host the next set of activities, with dates, times and locations yet to be announced.
