Kalunga:Gaga video by DennisFlores.com

Grupo Kalunga is a Afro-Haitian/Domincan Traditional musical group which plays a genre called "Gaga/Rara".
You can reach them at www.myspace.com/grupokalunga

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gaga
• Rara
• Santo
• Domingo
• Haiti
• Sto.
• Dominican
• Republic
• Creole
• voodoo
• Kalunga
• Vodun
• Vodoun
• Voudo
• Quesqueya
• Taino
• Africa

[ezyccn30]

Diache esto ta encendio me encanta amo a mi aafro dominicanos!!!

[killAm0th]

Haitian Kreyol is closer to French dan any other language since 90% of our words are French. The rest are spanish, portuguese and the syntax is wat makes it sound like african sometimes....but it' is Latin language and nothing else.

[killAm0th]

mphmm.....i think you're on to something.

[lilnikk2004]

but you do realized they are singing in haitian kreol which is closer to some african languages...

[SuperConejo]

Yes there are, Dominican Palo, Congo and Bambula are originally from the Dominican Republic, but then again, both the d.r and haiti are new countries, before they where countries there was lots of crossing back and forth, for example the Bambula of Samana is a mixture of Africans from the french speaking side and Africans from the spanish speaking side. Haitians coming into d.r would have usually re-inforced exisiting african cultures, gaga on the other hand came in the past 100 years from Haiti

[faasr4]

Is there any influence in African music,dance and custom that originally began in the Dominican Republic. Or since the island was once owned by Spain, what ever developed through slavery on the Hatian side (under Spanish rule) is equally a part of Dominican culture. Would appreciate some feedback. Thanks.

[minicoop73]

I appreciate your well respected response, hope to hear from you.

[ietHOTTIE]

One of the biggest clue is rara's relationship with vodou since that's where it emerged. And the biggest clue within that is that rhythms used in rara/gaga usually follow Gede's, a family of loas within vodou. Why is this big? The Gede or Gedevi are now a non-existent ethnic group in Africa, but in vodou their spirits have survived specifically in Haiti. and their rhythms too. No other countries in the diaspora serve the Guede family or seemingly know about them or their music. but Haiti.

[ietHOTTIE]

What I know about music isn't from books. i've studied up close the music of the afro diaspora (i drum) and well versed in many afro dances-kongo, igbo, yanvalou, etc. being familiar w/ many afro rhythms that might sound the same to an average ear, i can tell u that rara rhythms are unique to "hispaniola". some of the instruments too. to give ur granma the benefit of the doubt, if u can provide a well researched proof or some rhythms from st. kitts that gaga comes from, i'll look into it.

[minicoop73]

I respect that you have studied history, I give it to you but not all history is 100% true. When you talk to an individual who lived and witnessed historical moments that is true history. Remember there are SOME things written in books that is not true. Also, I apologize for saying that the Dominican Republic exist. The reason why I say this is because some people do not acknowledge this country instead they call it Hispaniola or Haiti which only occupies the western 1/3 of the island.