WARNING: THE RARA "BANDS ON FOOT" HAVE INVADED

In Haiti, especially during rara season, whenever a bannapye (literally "band on foot") is passing by your house (u usually hear them coming miles away), you either quickly get dressed, join in and follow them, or you stay home and watch from the balcony if you have one. The temptation will be to do the former.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT OUT DRIVING BECAUSE YOU WILL SPEND HOURS WAITING IT OUT. ALTHOUGH RARA BANNAPYE USUALLY STAY OFF THE MAIN ROADS AND ARE MORE COMMONLY HEARD GOING THROUGH THE POOREST SHANTYTOWNS, THE WEEKS BEFORE CARNIVAL, THEY'RE FOUND EVERYWHERE, WHETHER GOING TO CHAMPS-DE-MARS BY THE NATIONAL PALACE OR SOME OTHER PLACE.

And don't forget your musical instrument, a tambourine, or cha-cha, or tin can, or a whistle, in short whatever makes a sound.
The result is a lot of random noises, often disorganized, but it sure makes for more than an enjoyable experience!

Here's a small clip from this Haitian experience that is part of the culture.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Rara
• rasin
• ginen
• haiti
• ayiti
• bannapye
• haitian
• band
• pied
• ayisyen
• carnival
• carnaval
• kanaval
• folklore
• racine
• roots

[ezili]

Aaaaaaa! Se sa NÈT!!!!

Tou sa se Potoprens?

[ambreginny]

Se la raj menm.

Wi, tou sa se Potoprens.

Mezanmi, gade janm sonje lakay! M' paka bliye'w non, Ayiti. Chak fwa, m' gade sa, m' jis fenmen je mwen, e mwen imajine se lakay mwen ye e m'ap tande bon rara.

[real3rdlife]

sa pa rara sa se ban apye se debagay diferan rara pa gen trompete

[RicardoStSurin]

@relionjo Bon Bagay net e bien

[relionjo]

@RicardoStSurin mwen te rete nan Rue houille la. Lutsen se tonton mwen LUtsen raram li te jwe nan koudjay tou

[RicardoStSurin]

@relionjo Se sa net moun lakay devan l'eglise Notre dame du Perpetuel Secour nan rue macajoux se sa mwen te rete anvan sa nan rue dr aubry

[relionjo]

@RicardoStSurin . ou gen lè se yon neg bel-air paske se la mwen leve. mwen paka zone lan non frem

[RicardoStSurin]

Bon zinzin Im showing this to folks on this Iphone while jammin in the club LOl

[ames8989]

bon bagay

[PHEOLA1]

Brooklyn has the best RaRa in the US... miami too!

[lorn971]

pooo sa donne envi vivemen le carnaval 2011

[RobertMStFleur]

My favorite band, Rara band, it expresses joy, freedom and everybody comes with its own instrument.  Children get lost in Rara band; they walk and sing with the flow until the band gets too far away, they would not remember how to get back home.