Scorpion - El Alacran

Directed by Gloria Rolando, 19 min, English subtitles. "El Alacrán" ("The Scorpion") is about carnaval in Havana and one comparsa especially, which was founded in 1908 and dedicated to Yemaya.   This legendary comparsa "El Alacrán" hails from the Cerro barrio in Havana. Gloria Rolando is bringing this film in both its Spanish and its English subtitled version with her on her Spring 2001 tour.

Comparsa is a Cuban music and dance style with roots in the Congo which is much favored in carnavals.  In Cuba, they speak of a comparsa when referring to an association of musicians and dancers who come together to implement this music at these carnavals and other occasions.  The "El Alacrán" comparsa is dedicated to Yemaya, Yoruba goddess of the sea, and has been in existence since 1908.  Carnavals were not celebrated for some years after the first decade but they started again in 1937 and since then the comparsa has been in continuous existence. The documentary goes over this history of the group and its context within the history of carnavals with the likes of Rogelio Martinez Fure, who discusses their relationship to other carnavals, such as the New Orleans Carnaval.
https://afrocubaweb.com/alacran.htm