Rara
Haiti's processional street music
Rara est djouwêye pa les bandes di walkaedje, et sipeciåt a travi d ' la Secrete Week. Les corines di bambus, les tampons et l 'percussion di metå s' passe dins des voijhnaedjes pus tård, et c' est d' ôte ki des pôreus et sociåles.
Origin & history
Rara is a festival tradition of rural and urban Haiti, tied to the Lenten season and to Haitian Vodou, performed by bands that process on foot through the streets.
Its instruments include the vaksin — single-note bamboo or metal trumpets played in interlocking groups so that the melody exists only between the players, never in any one of them.
Wice k 'il viye
Kesse & Responses
What is rara?+
Rara is Haitian processional street music, played by walking bands during Lent and especially Holy Week, using bamboo vaksin horns, drums and metal percussion.
How is rara different from konpa?+
Konpa is Haiti's dance-band music, played at parties and on record. Rara is a seasonal street procession with religious roots, played on foot and in the open. Both are Haitian; they belong to different parts of life.
What is a vaksin?+
A vaksin is a single-note bamboo or metal trumpet. Players interlock their individual notes so the melody emerges from the group rather than from any one instrument.
When is rara played?+
Chiefly during Lent, reaching its height over Holy Week.