Poetics and Performance: <i>Fanfa</i> Bands and the Semiotic Landscape in Northern Haiti

Abstract This paper examines the poetics and cultural significance of fanfa youth band performances in the rural commune of Limonade in northern Haiti. Drawing on observations during fieldwork in 2010 and 2016, it analyzes how fanfa bands, directed by maestros , create complex sign systems through music, movement, and materialities. Utilizing Roman Jakobson’s semiotic theory and Linda Waugh’s expansion of poetic function, the study explores the interpretive relations between these components and their role in constituting a unique cultural soundscape. By examining the selection and combination of musical pieces, routes, and accompanying elements, the research highlights the dynamic interaction between fanfa bands and their social environment. This semiotic analysis offers insights into the broader implications of cultural landscapes and the poetics of performance in Haiti.