The Garland Handbook The Garland Handbook Of Latin American MusicOf Latin American Music

Part Three: Nations and Musical Part Three: Nations and Musical Traditions, Caribbean Latin Traditions, Caribbean Latin

America, HaitiAmerica, Haiti

Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage

IndigenousIndigenous CiboneyCiboney TaTaíínono

EuropeanEuropean French (1697)French (1697)

AfricanAfrican Like Cuba, contemporary Haitian culture greatly Like Cuba, contemporary Haitian culture greatly

informed by African heritageinformed by African heritage Long history of black resistanceLong history of black resistance Ideological and political dimension to negritude Ideological and political dimension to negritude

(“blackness”) movement(“blackness”) movement

GenresGenres VodouVodou

Neo-African religionNeo-African religion Similar to Afro-Cuban SanteriaSimilar to Afro-Cuban Santeria

• Shares roots in West African beliefs and musical traditionsShares roots in West African beliefs and musical traditions• Incorporates elements of Christianity Incorporates elements of Christianity

i.e., juxtaposition of loas and Catholic saintsi.e., juxtaposition of loas and Catholic saints• Involves possession of devoteesInvolves possession of devotees• Structures and induces possession through music and danceStructures and induces possession through music and dance• Incorporates similar instrumentsIncorporates similar instruments• Organizes music and ensemble around similar principlesOrganizes music and ensemble around similar principles

Historically linked with social and political Historically linked with social and political ideologies/movements ideologies/movements

• Negritude and black resistanceNegritude and black resistance

Genres (cont.)Genres (cont.)

Secular and folkloric genres of African derivation Secular and folkloric genres of African derivation Konbit Konbit

• Refers to collective-labor association and to event it organizesRefers to collective-labor association and to event it organizes• Emphasizes music as “propelling force”Emphasizes music as “propelling force”• Involves collaboration of work force in music-makingInvolves collaboration of work force in music-making

(Or of musicians in work effort?) (Or of musicians in work effort?)

• Origins (parallels) in West AfricaOrigins (parallels) in West Africa RaraRara

• Seasonal rural ritualSeasonal rural ritual• Both secular and sacredBoth secular and sacred

Connected to issues of life and deathConnected to issues of life and death

• Context for processional bands (Bann Rara)Context for processional bands (Bann Rara) Instrumentation, musical structure, relation of parts, and structure and Instrumentation, musical structure, relation of parts, and structure and

organization of ensembles reflect African influencesorganization of ensembles reflect African influences

Genres (cont.)Genres (cont.)

Urban popular musicUrban popular music DevelopmentDevelopment

• Circumscribed by social and economic issuesCircumscribed by social and economic issues Commercial genresCommercial genres

• Draw on Haitian traditionsDraw on Haitian traditions i.e., mereng-vodou, or vodou-jazz,i.e., mereng-vodou, or vodou-jazz,

• Incorporate influences from popular music outside Haiti (i.e., Incorporate influences from popular music outside Haiti (i.e., jazz, rock and roll, other Caribbean genres)jazz, rock and roll, other Caribbean genres)

• May engage social and political issues May engage social and political issues Mizik Angaje Mizik Angaje (note: compare with nueva trova in Cuba) (note: compare with nueva trova in Cuba)

Music and Social Dynamics in HaitiMusic and Social Dynamics in Haiti

Music and identityMusic and identity Music plays significant role in mobilizing social identity, including ethnic Music plays significant role in mobilizing social identity, including ethnic

(see Anthony Seeger, pp. 65-77)(see Anthony Seeger, pp. 65-77)

Consider significance of Haitian Vodou and other secular traditional and Consider significance of Haitian Vodou and other secular traditional and popular genres of African derivation to black ethnic identity, national popular genres of African derivation to black ethnic identity, national identity, and the ideology of negritude in Haitiidentity, and the ideology of negritude in Haiti

Possible questions for discussionPossible questions for discussion How might Haitian Vodou be considered a symbol for black ethnic How might Haitian Vodou be considered a symbol for black ethnic

identity and the ideologies of negritude?identity and the ideologies of negritude? How has the ideology of negritude influenced contemporary popular How has the ideology of negritude influenced contemporary popular

music in Haiti?music in Haiti? How might the conscious use and appropriation of such symbols by How might the conscious use and appropriation of such symbols by

both politicians and musicians be potentially advantageous?both politicians and musicians be potentially advantageous?