Twin sisters keep 22-year carnival tradition alive
Published:Sunday | April 27, 2025 | 3:25 PMKenrick Morgan/ Gleaner Writer -
In 22 years of revelling at Carnival in Jamaica, twin sisters Shanike and Janice Johnson have never jumped without each other. They say the tradition began when Shanike started working at Digicel in its early years.
“It was back when Digicel just started out in Jamaica and they were heavily involved in carnival. I decided to give it a try and never looked back,” she told The Gleaner.
Janice joked that she was “roped” into the fun and never looked back. Now, even though the two live worlds apart — Shanike in the States and Janice in Jamaica — they’re determined to keep the tradition alive together.
“We come together every year; we did miss a few years [due to] COVID and the one or two off years, but we are always here together,” Shanike explained.
“We always try to make each year more memorable than the last. So for this year, we look forward to doing something unique and different to achieve just that,” Janice added.
The two are jumping this year with carnival band Xodus, which leaves from Devon House in St Andrew.
While at the band’s meeting point, UK twins Sasika and Keturah Chambers were also spotted wearing Bloom as they geared up to hit the road.
The highly anticipated Carnival in Jamaica road march got underway this morning with bands Xodus, Gen XS, and Yard Mas.