The Moko arrived in Trinidad by “walking all the way across the Atlantic Ocean from the West coast of Africa, laden with many, many centuries of experience, and, in spite of all inhuman attacks and encounters, yet still walks tall, tall, tall. (John Cupid, Caribbean Beat)” The idea of the Moko survived by living in the hearts of African descendants during slavery and colonial life to eventually walk the streets of Trinidad in a celebration of freedom, Carnival.  While this figure was rooted in African heritage, Trinidad adapted the figure, notably by adding on Jumbie or ghost to the name.  The by the early 1900’s Moko Jumbies had become an element of Trinidad’s Carnival.  This figure would walk the streets of Port of Spain and other cities protecting the city and revelers from evil.  As part of his role in Carnival the Moko Jumbie would accept donations from onlookers in upper floors of buildings. However, his notable figure of Carnival slowly faded until a drastic revival.

By the early 1990’s Moko Jumbies were essentially non-existent in Carnival, until two men brought this tradition back. These men, namely Moose and Dragon, have brought the Moko Jumbie back to a place of prominence in Carnival and created a new kind of Moko Jumbie.  One man originally brought the idea to them as well as the knowledge of how to make stilts.  The style of stilts they walked was very similar to the modern day ones but with one main difference, they had no from leg brace.  This changed when a man named Ben from Canada, a random traveler, came to Trinidad with a pair of stilts.  His had a frontal brace on the upper leg and the Trinidadians took inspiration from this design and used it in their own.  Now there are two main Moko Jumbie bands in Trinidad, Watusi and Kilimanjaro, as well as several smaller ones.  So while the idea of the Moko came from Africa, Trinidad has made it, its own.

After being trained by the Watusi tribe the Moko Jumbie Zobay was born.  He walked the colorful streets of Trinidad with the Caribbean beats of steel pan in his head.  Yet, he had a longing to travel on and protect another land.  After braving the Caribbean Sea, harsh Texas desert, and crossing the Cascade mountains in two large steps Zobay reached the Puget Sound.  Since this time he has called Seattle home and has watched over its fair streets.  Since arriving in Seattle Zobay and others have formed the Moko Jumbie tribe of Chacacare.  Some members of Chacacare are also from the honorable tribe Watusi.  While many of these Moko Jumbies came from Trinidad with a African soul, they have whole heartedly embraced Seattle as their new home.