Rara is a musical style that originated in Haiti and is most commonly associated with parades and marches. During Lent and the weeks leading up to Easter, it’s especially common to see it. From a thematic standpoint, Old rara celebrates Haitian culture, their connection to Africa, and Haitian Voodoo beliefs. The composition of modern forms can be used to address social and political issues. Rara composers are sometimes hired political candidates to write songs for them to use in marches during their campaigns.
Early rara can be traced back to a variety of African dances and music. When slaves were brought to Haiti, these forms, which came from a variety of tribes, merged over the course of several generations to create rara. The music is distinctively celebratory, with a large number of percussion instruments played quickly.
Drums, maracas, and scrapers are common instruments in this style of music. It’s also possible to use simple trumpets, which are usually made from recycled cans. Brass and reed instruments are common in modern rara, and any percussive instrument, such as bells or shakers of any kind, can be used. Singers perform in Haitian Creole or Kreyol, ensuring that the music remains true to its roots. Modern rara is very popular on Haitian radio, and it often incorporates funk or blues to give it a more modern feel.
Because its lyrics can be openly critical of social problems or government leaders, the style has been banned in Haiti on occasion due to political instability. Attempts to outlaw it have most likely only increased its popularity. Instead, rara could “go underground” until a political regime that supports the music takes power.
In fact, some rara musicians have risen to positions of political power. Manno Charlemagne was one such musician who was exiled from Haiti as a result of his participation in the musical style. In the 1990s, when rara was re-accepted, Charlemagne returned to Haiti and became mayor of Port-au-Prince.
You don’t have to go to Haiti to listen to rara. Any area with a large number of Haitian immigrants in the US will almost certainly have a radio station playing this music. Fans in the United States can listen to their favorite rara tunes all year, not just during Lent and Easter. If you want to learn more about the style’s history and evolution, Elizabeth McAlister wrote one of the best books on the subject. Rara: Voudou, Power, and Performance in Haiti and Its Diaspora is regarded as one of the best scholarly works on the subject, as well as being entertaining.