Dominican folklore dance is one of the best examples of enslaved African’s influence. Although, there are different styles, the dance and music derived from African cultures and have since been refined and new styles emerged. Some of these have been Música de palos (Music of sticks), Música de Gagá (Ganga’s music, arrived from Haiti), Música de Congos (Music of Congos), Cantos de Hacha (Songs of axe), los congos, la jaiba (the crab), el chenche matriculado (the chenche enrolled). It’s essential to recognize the contributions of enslaved people and the ongoing influences of Dominicans of African origin.
I first made the illustration and built a digital video animation with handmade watercolor effects. The motivation to create this was to reflect my Dominican Heritage through my craft.
