congaplace.com

Posted: **Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:00 pm**

Hey, I picked this up from the CongaBook and I have really been enjoying playing it and developing some variations off of it. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where this rhythm came from? Haiti? Brasil? The D.R.? Help me out! I like to know what I am playing, the origins and stuff. Thanks
Juan

Posted: **Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:00 pm**

It comes from the Bantu origin,which is of the root of the Yambu, and cultivated for the haitians people,the different in phonetics are in relation to the culturization which in Haiti was done by French.But remember that haitian inmigration to Cuba started since mid 1700's during the Revolts.

Edited By zaragemca on 1092089053

Posted: **Thu Aug 12, 2004 9:13 am**

Yanvalou is Haitian. Check out Frisner Augustin & grupo
Makanadal to hear it. It feels different from the
way its written. There are alternationg quiet and loud sections
of the rhythm.

Isaac

Posted: **Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:45 pm**

Here is more info on "Yanvalu" it is Dahomean in origin and is a "dance" performed during Voudoo ceremonies. Quote from Alfred Metraux's book "Voodo in Haiti"-"the "yanvalu" is danced with the body leaning forward. knees bent, and with undulations which seem to spread from the shoulders all down the back. Movement is effected by sliding the feet sideways with a pause on the fourth beat". It is a dance in honor of Damballa-Wedo or Agwe. Haitian Gods....JC JOHNNY CONGA...

Posted: **Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:20 pm**

Yes,JC,good information,but isn't Dahomean,Dahome is just the City were some of this people(Bantus),moved from the central Africa( becouse the wars) which is the real origin,also Yorubas went to Dahome and have some interaction with these people and the Araras,the Fulanis,etc.Dahome is not a Tribe,or Civilization,it is just a name of the place.Voo-Doo is not a religion neither,it is just the street-name which was given to their practices.Your brother,Gerry Zaragemca.

Edited By zaragemca on 1092341327

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:47 am**

Question Gerry Z...if Voudou isn't a religion in Haiti, then what is it?.....The practices are similar to other Caribbean religions, ex.Santeria, which is a recognized religion by the Vatican and Castro...........JC JOHNNY CONGA....

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:49 am**

Also the information I posted came right out of the book from Alfred Metraux, so you might have to write him and ask him where he got his info from. I'm only the Messenger......JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :;):

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 4:58 pm**

Saludos JC, I know that the other brothers and you in this forum are only making reference to other writing(I know it is not any of your blame).References are good as much as they know,or some time as much as deeper they want to go in the African history.Absolutely not, these practices (Voo-Doo),are the same or have anything to do with (Santaria)Yorubas practices,(not even the same language), and as I said before, Santeria and now Voo-Doo are street-name not the real name of a religion,or a Tribe,or a Civilization.People didn't know their real name came out with something and it got stick with it.Remember also that I don't have to write a book,haitian people went to Cuba and I personally knew many of them and their decendants,we called it in Cuba pichon de haitianos(to the decendants).Also in Miami there is a community of haitian people,I did work with two of them, and we talk a lot in reference to their culture with I knew since I was in Cuba.Of course some people don't know that some of the Bantu people,Araras,Fulanis,Yorubas,etc.,moved to Dahome at one point from some place else,but there were a lot of movements of different Tribes to different places for differents reasons.Your brother Gerry Zaragemca.

Edited By zaragemca on 1092417809

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:03 pm**

Yes the "word" Santeria is the "christian" term, but as we both know it is called "Lucumi". I also worked with the Haitian drummers when I lived in Miami for 17 years and learned much from them . I also have video from Santiago de Cuba, showing "Tumbas Francesas". So I am famiiar with the "cross polonization" Africans have had in the Caribbean and Africa, proper......Tu socio...JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :;):

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:17 pm**

Very interesting information. I am not really very familiar with the music and customs of Haiti so I enjoyed reading your replies to gain some insight and understanding to this rhythm. I am wondering on what type of drums would this rhythm be played in Haiti? I think I have seen some Haitian drums but I don't remember the names. What instruments would accompany the drums, bells, guiro, shekere? Probably whatever is available, even a frying pan sounds good if you play it right.
Juan

Posted: **Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:53 pm**

There is a cuban version of the yanvalou play by the cuban with haïtian origine...

Posted: **Mon Aug 16, 2004 5:51 pm**

Of course Laurent there is a version,and as I said from the begining with a few stuff which was added,is it part of the root of what is called Yambu(in Cuba),Yanvalou(in the haitian's (french influenced language).There is not Chekere,bells,or Guiro instruments in the original patterns.Anything with bells,or Chekere have been incorporated from the Yorubas.

Edited By zaragemca on 1092679304

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:09 pm**

Hey Zaragemca, I want to make sure I am understanding you correctly that Yanvalou is like the Haitian version of Yambu in Cuba?

Posted: **Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:16 pm**

The both have the Bantu origing,with the Yambu been added a few steps and and the percussion structure in Cuba,which didn't happen in Haiti(for whatever reasons),and the difference in phonetic is related to different languages,(french,in Haiti,and Hispanic in Cuba.

Edited By zaragemca on 1092939773

Posted: **Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:54 am**

zaragemca wrote:Of course Laurent there is a version,and as I said from the begining with a few stuff which was added,is it part of the root of what is called Yambu(in Cuba),Yanvalou(in the haitian's (french influenced language).There is not Chekere,bells,or Guiro instruments in the original patterns.Anything with bells,or Chekere have been incorporated from the Yorubas.

Hi,
I wanted to speak about a version played by the Haitian migrants of Cuba. For me Yambu it is an other thing. Yanvalou is a 6/8 rythm, Yambu is 4/4 rythm. For the african origin of the Yanvalou, the use of the stiks remind an Ewe / Fon origin.
ZunZun

Edited By Laurent Lamy on 1092992167

congaplace.com

Yanvalou - Where is this rhythm from?