Gagá as a ritual expression of resistance in the afro-descendant Caribbean

Abstract

This article examines Gagá as an Afro-Caribbean ritual manifestation that persists in the Dominican Republic, celebrated mainly during Holy Week in Afro-descendant communities of the bateyes. Characterized by its deeply syncretic nature, Gagá integrates African, Haitian, European, and Dominican elements through music, dance, and spirituality, becoming a space of cultural resistance, community cohesion, and identity affirmation in the face of social exclusion and historical prejudice. The study explores its origins and evolution in the bateyes, its expression in Guaymate self-proclaimed “capital of Gagá” its dimension as music and dance of resistance, and the tensions with Christianity as a contrasting cultural vision. Syncretism emerges as a central category to explain its persistence, as it intertwines the sacred and the profane, Vodou and Christianity, Haitian and Dominican traditions. Despite ongoing stigmatization and limited academic research, Gagá endures as an integral cultural heritage, whose recognition is not only an act of historical justice but also a means to strengthen the understanding of diversity and cultural richness in the Dominican Republic.