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My name is Rol’hans Innocent founder of Agoci Entertainment, LLC. In the name of our ancestors, I would like to introduce everyone to a brief history of Haitian dance.
Dance has always been an integral part of Haitian Culture. When the African taken from the West Cost of Africa, in Yoruba and Dahomey, and brought to the Caribbean Island of Haiti as slaves in the 1600 hundred, they brought deep inside of them their rituals, culture, and tradition. Many of these old traditions, their songs and dance, remain predominantly present in Haiti. For the largest part of the Haitian People, Dancing is an act deeply rooted in almost all of the important events of life, beginning with Christening of child, and continue beyond the individual’s death. There are secular and religious dancing. In religious dancing, people dance to supplicate countless Afro-Haitian Loa, or spirits, to accompany the making of magic, to ward off devils and demons, to send the dead on their way, and in honor of ancestors. They dance to make work easier; a good example of that is the dance Kombit. Dance is a positive statement of life. It sets forces into motion. It has the power to cure and vitalize. It is no wonder why many uprisings and revolts of the slaves in Haiti, during the eighteen-century, were born in dances (dance ba). |
A modern version of that can be seen in any Haitian protest. For example, during the march against FDA on Brooklyn Bridge, there were countless drums to warm up protestors.
Haitian dance is deeply rooted in the African Tradition of Vodou, and that word seems to scare a lot of people away from Haitian culture for many people think that vodou is black magic, witchcraft, and evil. The reason for that is that Haitian Vodou has been misrepresented in movies like “The Serpent of the Rainbow” and so on.
Vodou is an African word for Spirit. This tradition is the positive Health relationship between human and spirits. Vodou first began in Western Africa, especially in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Vodou was brought to the United States by a group of slaves call Yoruba. in Haiti by Benin and Yoruba people.
The Yoruba people believed in one God, Grand Met or Grand Master, call Otorum (Oldrum). In vodou ceremonies believers seek to establish contact with god. They hope to influence the spirits to get involved in Human or healthy matters, through gift offering, animal sacrifices, and so on. Vodou is practiced by more than %60 of the Haitian Population, and Haitian Dance or Haitian Folklore has its roots from vodou. There are only a few dances including Affranchi, Meringue maybe, that’s not associated to Vodou. Vodou is very much a Haitian Tradition.
As we go down the different tribes of our African Ancestors, the dances are as follow:
Yanvalou: A ritual dance originated in Benin. It honors all the spirits of the rada nation. Yanvalou represents the undulation of the waves as they rise and fall and also the movement of spirit Dambalah, represented by a serpent. Dambalah is the source of energy and life. White is the color of the very pure rada spirits.
Parigol: A graceful and subtle yanvalou associated with La Sirene, the mermaid.
Possession: The spirits take control of the body. The human body becomes a horse for the spirit to ride.
Gongo: A dance associated with the Congo nation. This dance represents the beauty and Majesty of Haitian people. The Congo people were known for their sociability and gaiety. This rhythm is said to have influenced Jazz.
Ibo: A dance of the Igbo nation of Nigeria. It expresses the pride of the Igbo people, who preferred death to enslavement. The movement of this dance represent the breaking the chains of slavery. The colors of the Igbo people are red and white.
Song: Ibo Lele Ibo lele mayanman
Dessalin soti nan no li pote wanga nibo
Nago: This dance derives from Nagos of the interior of the former Slave Coast. This dance honors the spirits of power. In this dance the dancer thrust the body forward, arms and chests, suggesting breaking through invisible barriers. Through this dance we honor Ogun Badari, St. Jack. And Ogun Feray, Osanj, etc.
Song: Salwi nagoe nago rive o
Mayi: A dance named after the Mayi people. It honors Erzulie Freda and St. Jack of the Nago nation.
Djouba: A dance from the Djumba nation. These are spirit of the earth and farmers. Denim blue is the color of the djouba people. The subtle swaying of the hips in Djouba shows the elegant flirtation of peasant men and women. Kouzin is honored in this dance.
Petro:A dance associated with the Haitian revolution because a Petro ritual in Bwa Cayiman preceded the initial uprising in 1791. Petro is a fire dance. A dance about sedition and change.
Banda:This is the dance of the Gede nation. The Gede spirits are spirits of the life-and-death cycle. Their dance is erotic and decadent. The gede spirits wear black, white and purple rags and sunglasses.
Song: Rele Lwa yo Banda rive, lele iwa yo Banda rive
Finally, keep in mind there are 101 nations + in Haitian Vodou and each has their own dances. This text only covered the basic dances of Haitian Folklore; there are more.
Haitian dance is deeply rooted in the African Tradition of Vodou, and that word seems to scare a lot of people away from Haitian culture for many people think that vodou is black magic, witchcraft, and evil. The reason for that is that Haitian Vodou has been misrepresented in movies like “The Serpent of the Rainbow” and so on.
Vodou is an African word for Spirit. This tradition is the positive Health relationship between human and spirits. Vodou first began in Western Africa, especially in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Vodou was brought to the United States by a group of slaves call Yoruba. in Haiti by Benin and Yoruba people.
The Yoruba people believed in one God, Grand Met or Grand Master, call Otorum (Oldrum). In vodou ceremonies believers seek to establish contact with god. They hope to influence the spirits to get involved in Human or healthy matters, through gift offering, animal sacrifices, and so on. Vodou is practiced by more than %60 of the Haitian Population, and Haitian Dance or Haitian Folklore has its roots from vodou. There are only a few dances including Affranchi, Meringue maybe, that’s not associated to Vodou. Vodou is very much a Haitian Tradition.
As we go down the different tribes of our African Ancestors, the dances are as follow:
Yanvalou: A ritual dance originated in Benin. It honors all the spirits of the rada nation. Yanvalou represents the undulation of the waves as they rise and fall and also the movement of spirit Dambalah, represented by a serpent. Dambalah is the source of energy and life. White is the color of the very pure rada spirits.
Parigol: A graceful and subtle yanvalou associated with La Sirene, the mermaid.
Possession: The spirits take control of the body. The human body becomes a horse for the spirit to ride.
Gongo: A dance associated with the Congo nation. This dance represents the beauty and Majesty of Haitian people. The Congo people were known for their sociability and gaiety. This rhythm is said to have influenced Jazz.
Ibo: A dance of the Igbo nation of Nigeria. It expresses the pride of the Igbo people, who preferred death to enslavement. The movement of this dance represent the breaking the chains of slavery. The colors of the Igbo people are red and white.
Song: Ibo Lele Ibo lele mayanman
Dessalin soti nan no li pote wanga nibo
Nago: This dance derives from Nagos of the interior of the former Slave Coast. This dance honors the spirits of power. In this dance the dancer thrust the body forward, arms and chests, suggesting breaking through invisible barriers. Through this dance we honor Ogun Badari, St. Jack. And Ogun Feray, Osanj, etc.
Song: Salwi nagoe nago rive o
Mayi: A dance named after the Mayi people. It honors Erzulie Freda and St. Jack of the Nago nation.
Djouba: A dance from the Djumba nation. These are spirit of the earth and farmers. Denim blue is the color of the djouba people. The subtle swaying of the hips in Djouba shows the elegant flirtation of peasant men and women. Kouzin is honored in this dance.
Petro:A dance associated with the Haitian revolution because a Petro ritual in Bwa Cayiman preceded the initial uprising in 1791. Petro is a fire dance. A dance about sedition and change.
Banda:This is the dance of the Gede nation. The Gede spirits are spirits of the life-and-death cycle. Their dance is erotic and decadent. The gede spirits wear black, white and purple rags and sunglasses.
Song: Rele Lwa yo Banda rive, lele iwa yo Banda rive
Finally, keep in mind there are 101 nations + in Haitian Vodou and each has their own dances. This text only covered the basic dances of Haitian Folklore; there are more.