Politics on the Pavement: Haitian Rara as a Traditionalizing Process

Abstract

Abstract Rara is a Haitian Lenten festival that features exuberant dancing and singing as well as strong connections to the Haitian traditional religion known as Vodou. This article examines Rara as a traditionalizing process that creates discursive space for lower-class Haitians to include themselves as agents in Haitian history and politics. By analyzing the products of Rara performances--song texts, street performances, and narratives about past Rara celebrations--in their complex social and historical contexts, it is possible to see Rara performances not merely as entertaining diversions but as shaping influences on Haitians’ understanding of their political reality.

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