Gaga Music, Haitian influence, Dominican acceptance, and Chiri's blog!

[NALs]

Boy! What a title for a thread!

First and foremost,

I would suggest everyone to take a peek into Chiri's blog and read her inputs (and my own) on Gaga festivals and the issue of Dominicanization or Haitianization (depends on the view) of this cultural trait. Afterwards, come back to this thread and read the rest of this post. Here is a link to Chiri's blog:

http://www.dr1.com/blogs/entry.php?u=Chiri&e_id=1071

Since all of you have read the blog already , I won't have to re-post what I have stated there regarding Gaga and the way its perceived by different people.

However, Chiri asked a very interesting question which I really liked. Her question was the following:

What about the African-Catholic syncretism as practised in the DR? Is that purely a Haitian import as well, in your view?

Answer: The African-Catholic syncretism as practicsed in this country is not a Haitian import, but it also depends on which African-Catholic syncretism we are talking about.

With the issue of Gaga celebrations, it has been well documented that it was a Haitian import. In fact, Gaga celebrations in Cuba were as well Haitian imports. Prior to the importation of such celebration into either countries, Gaga celebrations were unknown, despite both countries (Cuba and DR) having African and mixed blood population in relatively large numbers, especially when compared to other Spanish speaking country on the Latin American mainland.

If Gaga was truly an African-Catholic syncretism, then it would have developed in all Latin American societies with a significant African/Mulatto segment of the population, but we have not seen that occur.

What we have seen is the development of Gaga (or Rara) in Haiti and from Haiti exported to Dominican Republic, Cuba, and perhaps other countries. Much how Vudu evolved in Haiti and from there it was exported to DR, even Cuba, and as far away as New Orleans in the United States.

Given that such cultural traits evolved within Haiti and then were exported to neighboring countries, I would have to say that Vudu, as well as Gaga, are Haitian cultural traits in their respective countries. With the case of Vudu, there is a slight difference between the Vudu performed by some Dominicans vs. the Vudu performed by Haitians. Given this difference, it could be said that the Haitian Vudu that made it to the DR has been "dominicanized" to the point that we can call this "new" vudu, Vudu Dominicana or Dominican Vodu.

With the case of Gaga celebrations, there is absolutely no difference between the Gaga celebrations done in DR vs the one's done in Haiti, except that one is called Gaga and the other Rara. In fact, the bulk of the celebrations on both sides of the border are conducted by Haitians, Haitian migrants, and their off springs. Additionally, Gaga celebrations are heavily confined to bateyes and areas of heavy Haitian presence within the Republic.

In Cuba, Gaga celebrations are much more pronounced in Oriente province in eastern Cuba, the closest part of Cuba to Haiti and the area of Cuba with large Haitian populations. However, as I stated on your blog, the way people (by people I mean non-Dominicans) view the Gaga performed in Cuba is very different from the way they view the Gaga performed in Dominicana.

When people refer to the Gaga performed in Cuba, they give plenty of attention and emphasis on the fact that it was a Haitian import and its still practiced in the parts of Cuba where Haitians were and to a great extent, still are numerous, meaning eastern Cuba. With the case of DR, the overall view of Gaga is to quickly refer to the fact that it was an import cultural trait of Haitian migrants and that its still overwhelmingly performed by Haitians. The view of Gaga performed in the DR is often looked upon as a way of bringing about issues of race, racism and the sort, and sort of Dominicanize what is in fact a Haitian ritual, where as that is not the case when people talk about the Gaga that is produced in Cuba, despite being the same ritual being conducted in Cuba, Haiti, and DR, predominantly by Haitians and their descendants in all three countries.

But, the African-Catholic syncretisms that existed in the DR from the importation of slaves directly to the former colony of Spain (later became DR) are and should be considered Dominican cultural traits. Additionally, any cultural trait that uniquely developes or is imported but takes a unique Dominican shape or style or the sort, then we ought to consider such trait as Dominican.

But, with the case of Gaga, its a Haitian import, it has hardly changed to the point that Gaga and Rara are practically the same thing, they are both performed overwhelmingly by Haitians and their offsprings, then its a Haitian cultural trait.

Gaga celebrations are interesting, but as I stated in Chiri's blog:

This country does not regards something as its own if its not, just how we don't try to Dominicanize Rock music, simply because a small number of people listen to that music style and/or we don't try to say that Salsa is a Dominican music simply because most Dominicans like and dance to Salsa music. Salsa is Puertorican (well, Cuban if you really get into the history of this genre), Rock is American, and Gaga is Haitian.

-NAL

[Mirador]

Please don’t ask me for bibliographic references, because my theory hasn’t been published yet. The roots of gaga are not in Africa, but in our own island of Hispaniola. Gaga is derived from an aboriginal ritual, sort of a mock fight between two war parties (of seven to twelve members each), carrying spears, and dressed from ankles to neck in a tight fitting woven cotton covered with dangling colored threads…

[Quisqueya]

Nals,


Hmmmm what are getting at..exactly...are you insinuating there isn't an african element that isn't non-haitian in the DR..Were there not africans in cuba & east side of DR as well....this is something very very very complicated..you can't compare cuba with our island..heheheheh...

In Brazil Candomble is of African origin as well as every S. American country that couldn't supress the Africans from practicing their religion...did haitians import these religions to South America as well...hmmmm...Now I must admit there are alot of similarities between the two..Haven't you ever take into consideration t

[Chirimoya]

Thanks Nal for starting the thread. I was hoping that some of the cognescenti on DR1 who don't necessarily read the blog but seem to know a thing or two about these matters, like Tordok and Mirador, would join in.

Thanks for the reply about santeria.

Next question: what about the other African-influenced folk traditions found in the Dominican campo?

The 'salves' and 'atavales' I have heard are sung in Spanish.

'Palos' - is this from the British West Indies, like the Maypole celebrations you find on the Caribbean coast of Central America.

Los Congos de Villa Mella - direct from Africa, according to most experts, although I have heard counter arguments claiming that these are in fact 'Haitians'. Whatever they are, they have world heritage status.

Gaga and Rara are related, everyone agrees on that. Every time I've seen Gaga those involved are not just Haitian, however. It appears to have been established as a campo tradition in the DR for a while now.

There is also a Haitian Merengue - does this follow that Dominican Merengue comes from Haiti? The roots of Merengue are perhaps better documented than Gaga and Rara, and as I understand it it was devised by African slaves combining their traditional movements with the ballroom dances they learned from observing their European masters. In what is now the DR, it is merengue, and in Haiti, it is mereng.

Even if Gaga came to the DR via Haiti, the fact that those who practice it are Dominicans as well as Haitians, it is as Dominican as other cultural adoptions like quipes and chofan.

Originally Posted by Mirador

The roots of gaga are not in Africa, but in our own island of Hispaniola. Gaga is derived from an aboriginal ritual, sort of a mock fight between two war parties (of seven to twelve members each), carrying spears, and dressed from ankles to neck in a tight fitting woven cotton covered with dangling colored threads…

Mirador, really funny you should mention that. I met a Gaga group from San Pedro at the Santo Domingo carnival and they struck me (superficially) as very Indian (in the indigenous American sense) as much as African. I think I may have even posted about this at the time.

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

... Mirador, really funny you should mention that. I met a Gaga group from San Pedro at the Santo Domingo carnival and they struck me (superficially) as very Indian (in the indigenous American sense) as much as African. I think I may have even posted about this at the time.

When I was a small child, much before I heard about gagas, on a family outing by one of our main rivers, I saw two Indian parties, like I describe, both led by a ‘commander’, and moving their spears much like certain oriental martial arts school would wield wooden batons, doing a sort of dance with very fancy footwork, where balance and mobility seemed to be the key. At the end, without physical contact of any kind, one of the parties conceded defeat and marched away, again prancing the intricate dance. At the time I thought all my relatives present at the outing had seen the event. It happened right in our mist. No one else witnessed it.

[Quisqueya]

Chiri,


You brought up something very very interesting...which I think everyone have done b4..that is listen to music..To tell you the truth "compas" was indeed called meringue but with the boom of merengue in the DR to avoid confusion it is said we, well not me, haitian musician evolved meringue to a new style called "compas". Now, the million dollar question is... Is merengue from the DR and off spring of the "meringue/compas" found in present day DR a better yet did it originate in Haiti...this can start a riot on DR1 but I honesty don't know the TRUE answer to that..I guess its like the salsa which was created in Cuba but made popular by Puerto Ricans...

Now regarding Gaga & Rara I see the similarities but to say Gaga is a haitian religion would be a dishonor to the african roots in the DR which is always blamed on haitians..It's appears the Cardinal and the rest of dominican society blame everything African either a haitian influence or the British blacks on the island..my question is what about the africans that came to DR directly from W. Africa...

To be honest with you gringos or outsiders know more about Rara & Gaga better than us(haitian & dominican) because we are taught this is negative and un-cultured by the Catholic church and because of such the mystery behind this african religion..is it a religion? Funny, thing is I know nothing about either which is ashame because it is indeed an interesting to see this on OUR island of "Espanola"...too bad we down play it and don't appreciate it...thanks for the topic..I've learned alot about this mysterious culture...


Now another observation..even dominican painting to me is influence by Haitian or they just tend to admire the style and call it their own which to me is plaigirism...but the hardest thing to do is decipher which is actually trully dominican and truly haitian..I honestly think people assume oh its african then it must be haitian and if its taino or going towards euro-centric then it is dominican which is bogus...Actually in Haiti there are alot of european & indegenous "taino/arawak" still exist but its obvious african culture dominates....

[Marianopolita]

Just an fyi this is the second time I am seeing this comment in this thread about salsa being from Cuba. Being the music fan and connoisseur that I am of all tropical rhythms I feel it is necessary to clarify this point. Salsa is NOT from Cuba. Salsa originated in New York, which began when Cuban musicians started to leave Cuba in the 1950’s. They used el son cubano as a base and changed and enhanced the rhythms with different instruments like el trombón being one of them to create what we know today as salsa. The dissemination of salsa music in New York is credited to Puerto Ricans and the original Fania All Stars are the ones who put salsa on the map. Most of the members at the time were Puerto Ricans or of Puerto Rican descent such as Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe and other members included Celia Cruz and I believe Johnny Pacheco (I will have to verify this).

El son cubano still retains its distinction as a genre. Groups and artists like Issac Delgado, Adalberto Alvarez, Paulito F.G y su elite, Albita Rodriguez etc. are true representatives of Cuban son not to be confused with salsa.

BTW- I am in Panama right now and last night I went dancing and you should have seen how these Panamanians dance to Haitian music. I was so proud. Here in Panama all afroantillano rhythms are enjoyed by Panamanians.


LDG.

[Quisqueya]

Lesley D,


U are absolutely correct thanks for the correction.............


enjoying panama...clubbing on Ave Bilboa..lucky you..indeed panama embraces their afroantillano rythms are indeed embraced by panamanians..I need to call my friends down their to see how they are doing...its been a while...enjoy and be safe...

[Chirimoya]

Hehe, I think Nal has put a 'fucu' on my blog.

It's having an unusually quiet day, even for a weekend.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Thanks Nal for starting the thread.

No problem!

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Next question: what about the other African-influenced folk traditions found in the Dominican campo?

As I have stated in your blog and in the original post, African-influenced folk traditions that are "dominicanized" are Dominican, unlike Gaga which was born in Haiti and for the most part, its still practiced by Haitians and their descendants.

Yes, some Dominicans do engage in such rituals, that is why I say "for the most part" and "not all the time".

In addition to this, most Dominicans don't live in the countryside nowadays. The country has become increasingly urban, while rural areas have been becoming increasingly Haitianize via Haitian migrants. Why has this tradition not been taken to the cities?

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Los Congos de Villa Mella - direct from Africa, according to most experts, although I have heard counter arguments claiming that these are in fact 'Haitians'. Whatever they are, they have world heritage status.

There is some debate going on on whether the Congos from VM are Haitian or not.

I think they are descendants of Congolese, but given the large Haitian population in this country, it would be natural to find Haitians. In any case, the Congo (both modern Congos) was a major source of the Africans brought to this hemisphere, so....

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

There is also a Haitian Merengue - does this follow that Dominican Merengue comes from Haiti? The roots of Merengue are perhaps better documented than Gaga and Rara, and as I understand it it was devised by African slaves combining their traditional movements with the ballroom dances they learned from observing their European masters. In what is now the DR, it is merengue, and in Haiti, it is mereng.

Yes, I'm aware of the Haitian merengue, though its different from the Dominican merengue due to their guitar based sounds rather than accordion (we are talking about old merenge or merengue tipico).

The original Dominican merengue incorporated a guitar until German migrants introduced the accordion and that instrument replaced the guitar.

As to where was Merengue born? Depends on who you ask, but we can all be certain that it was somewhere in the Western Cibao, between Santiago and the border.

It's interesting how the question "Dominican Merengue comes from Haiti?" as oppose to "Haitian Merengue comes from DR?" since no one knows where exactly it started and who influenced who, since both countries have influenced each other. But, of course, people on focus on the notion of Haiti influencing DR and not vice-versa.

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Even if Gaga came to the DR via Haiti, the fact that those who practice it are Dominicans as well as Haitians, it is as Dominican as other cultural adoptions like quipes and chofan.

Yes, its a cultural "adoption", but its not Dominican just how quipes and chofan are not Dominican.

Sure, ask the average joe in the street whether quipes are Dominican and they will say yes, out of ignorance. Ask an educated Dominican and he/she will pin point to you that it was an imported food by the Syrians and Lebanese migrants.

To my knowledge, comida china is Chinese food and I have not heard one of my countrymen refer to that food as Dominican, though we love to eat it!

-NAL