"The activity, known as cannes brûlées (burnt canes), had its origins during slavery." Caribbean stick fighting &c.

This is probably another example of historians reading connections into things where they probably don't exist.

Canne brûlée or "cane fire" signals the start of Cropover and the start the of the, often riotous, French Caribbean carnival seasons. Planters set fire to their ripened cane fields to burn off the leafy "trash". Saves the field workers carrying 20-25% of the (useless) weight and odd fer-de-lance to the sugar mill. This has been true, albeit in other languages and sneks, since the Egyptian and Azores expansion eras. It still worries air quality experts and reptilians today.

Fire hardening of wooden weaponry: canes, clubs, spears &c is more like 400,000 years old. Old school carnival road marches make mosh pits look like a wedding procession. People died every season, though I don't think that's what this song is about.