Two YouTube Videos Of Whistle Blowing/Baton Twirlers In Haitian Ra Ra & In Dominican Republic & Cuban Ga Ga

iownafordprobe, Jun 11, 2010

Mesmerizing scene from Maya Deren's film "Divine Horsemen"

The entire film is amazing.
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Here's a quote from https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0253217490 Africanisms in American Culture edited by Dr. Joseph E. Halloway pp. 12-13 The Kongo Pose And Baton Twirling
..."The African Haitian ritual dancing based on a dance form found in northern Kongo was adopted by the baton-twirling "major jonc" called rara. Its members twirl batons and strike a Kongo pose when confronting a rival group. it is hypothesized that in Mississippi. where many Kongo slaves resided, such groups had a major impact. Mississippi has become a world baton-twirling center".
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For more excerpts from that book, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/haitian-ra-ra-videos-of-artticle.html "Haitian Ra Ra Videos Of & Article Excerpts (With A Focus On Blowing Whistles During Haitian Ra Ra Processions)".

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is the fifth post in an ongoing pancocojams series about the cultural meanings of and uses for blowing whistles (instruments) in various Black cultures throughout the world, .

This pancocojams post showcases two videos of whistle blowing baton twirlers in Haitian Ra Ra and in Dominican Republic Ga Ga and Cuban Ga Ga. 

A few comments from these video's discussion threads are included in this post.

The content of this pancocojams post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos online.

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SUMMARY OF VIDEO #1 AND COMMENTS FROM THAT VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

Unfortunately, this "Divine Horsemen- Baton Twirler" video only has 7,387 total views and 9 comments as of February 19, 2025. Seven of the comments are in English, one consists of a purple heart emoji, and one consists of the word "GaGa" (which is the Dominican Republic and Haitian form of the somewhat more familiar (in the United States) name "Ra Ra" for these processions. 

Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only:

1. @priceta992, 2010
"The origin of baton twirling! How many in band camp know this gift of Haiti to the US!"

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Reply
2. @Catatonia31, 2011
"@priceta992 Its all African. Thank the West African peoples that were transported to all areas of the Americas."

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Reply
3. @priceta992, 2011
"@Catatonia31 True. You might say its the particular manifestation of African culture in Haiti

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4. @NativaIntuitiva, 2011
"GAGÁ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Rara de Leogane (extrait)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUbBv7afZlU

jfchalut, Jan 6, 2011

© Productions Marassa ...
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Embedding this video isn't permitted. Click that link to vide this video

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SUMMARY STATEMENT AND COMMENT FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

"Rara de Leogane" 1990, 40 min., créole.

Réalisation, caméra et montage: Jean-François Chalut.

Appui au montage: Mancuso Productions.

...Chaque année durant la Semaine sainte, Léogane devient le siège d'une compétition pour déterminer le meilleur rara de la région. Ce film relate le parcours mystique des différents raras depuis le Vendredi Saint jusqu'au Lundi de Pâques (Sainte Colette), Le houngan Louisant Ferdinand nous explique la place du Vodou dans le rara, le rôle des participants et l'esprit de compétition qui les anime.
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Google translate from French to English: 

Director, camera and editing: Jean-François Chalut.

Editing support: Mancuso Productions.

..."Every year during Holy Week, Léogane becomes the site of a competition to determine the best rara in the region. This film relates the mystical journey of the different raras from Good Friday to Easter Monday (Saint Colette), Houngan Louisant Ferdinand explains the place of Voodoo in the rara, the role of the participants and the competitive spirit that drives them."

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This video only has a total of 51,345 total views and 10 comments as of Feb. 19, 2025. All of these comments except one is written in Haitian Creole and either praise the video or asks about the names of some of those who are shown in the video.  The comment in English indicates that he (or she) really likes this sh-t.

Here's one comment from the discussion thread that is written in Haitian Creole and translated to English:

@bazpoze88, 2012
"bel bagay! pa janm bliye zanzet nou yo."
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Google translate from Haitian Creole to English:
"beautiful thing! never forget our ancestors."

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