Congos Of Villamella: One the oldest brotherhood with 300 years of spiritual manifestation, inscribed in 2008 on UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is cofradia of the Congos of Espiritu Santo. On Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit, the brotherhood celebrates a ritual that includes prayers, dances and songs accompanied by congos music and a procession takes place in which the image of a dove representing the Holy Spirit is displayed.
The perennially of the Brotherhood has always been threatened by the authorities’ lack of interest in cultures of African and mestizo origin. Today, the acceleration of urban growth, migrations, unemployment and the standardization of values only reinforce prejudices and misunderstanding regarding the Brotherhood.
Sarandunga of Baní: This traditional manifestation is celebrated in the south of the island in the Baní region, Peravia Province, is directly related to religiosity and Catholicism, because it is celebrated on the date of Saint John the Baptist. A procession takes place where the statue of Saint John the Baptist is taken and carried from the church through the entire town until it reaches the river where it enters the water and sings and dances.
This manifestation consists of three different patterns or movements:
The first one is known as Los Moranos, which is the one with the lowest speed and is played and sung while the procession takes place. In this procession, the drums are taken, placed under the arm and played with one hand, always accompanied by the instrument called güira.
In the second part is what is known as La Jacana or the “dance of the old women” which is when the procession arrives at the river and the whole ceremony is done, the celebration begins, and drummers play this movement that is faster than the first and is the one that the older one’s dance. Then there is La Bomba or Capitana, which is the fastest final celebration, which, like La Jacana, is played sitting with the drum placed between the legs and accompanied by the güira.
Palos o Atabales: Are the most important folkloric and cultural manifestation in the Dominican territory because it’s the only one that’s celebrated throughout the nation, for all kinds of religious and ceremonial activities. It is played with the instruments of the same name, drums built from logs three to four feet high. There are three suits: the major, the minor and the pimp. Its practice is associated with the celebrations of virgins and saints.
These activities are vital for several reasons. Culturally, preserving the performance of long drums (palos) is crucial due to their unique blend of European influences and roots from the Congo region of Africa, along with their association with religious ceremonies and saints’ days in Dominican folk Catholicism. The music’s uniqueness lies in the use of special drums made from hollowed-out logs, combined with oral traditions. Similarly, Sarandunga, originating as a sign of religious devotion, is an essential living cultural artifact that needs preservation.