#gwoka

[fuchinobe]

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(2024, Beauty & the Beat, BATB 006) Edit by Cedric Woo

[afrotumble]

Naosibe📷

[afrotumble]

[girlfromtheantilles]

Gwoka, from the French Caribbean Islands of Guadeloupe.

Enslaved Africans in Guadeloupe had used Gwoka to communicate through music, song, and dance. Nowadays, this cultural expression celebrates and continues the legacy and stories of the people of Guadeloupe.

In this video, the barefoot dancer—a Black woman with ankle-length locs and wearing a sleeveless, white top and red flared shorts with a pleated hem that ends a little above her knees—is communicating with the lead drummer to perform the notes based on each step she makes. The specific rhythm, which the other drummers are playing, is called Léwoz. There are seven rhythms in total that express different moods and tell various stories.

(video source)

[fuchinobe]

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Excursions in Gwoka vol​.​1 (2022, Beauty And The Beat, BATB 005)

Bandcamp

Linear notes by Cédric Lassonde:

“‘A Ka Titine’ has long been a staple at our Beauty & the Beat parties, a dancers’ favourite and one of those truly special records which have become part of the party’s DNA. This is gwoka from Guadeloupe, a term which not only designates an authentic music genre from the Caribbean island, but also a specific dance and more spiritually the soul and identity of a people. Lyrics often express the uniqueness of Guadeloupean culture, through the codes and metaphors of the Creole language, acting effectively as transmission of a collective history. Gwoka is made up of seven distinct rhythms, each of them used for different social occasions, from baptisms to funerals. ‘A Ka Titine’ is based on the driving toumblak rhythm, one which expresses love and happiness, and the most often heard in party situations. Gaoulé Mizik were a seminal outfit which released two cult albums in the late 80s, alternating between gwoka traditionnel and fusion experiments which they described as gwoka évolutif. ‘A Ka Titine’ is straight-up gwoka traditionnel, with legendary singer Michel Laurent at the peak of his powers. The “Titine” of the song is the name of the beach hut’s owner where Michel goes to have some fish, ends up drinking rum and playing dominoes, before almost getting killed in a brawl (!). Laurent is in raconteur mode, akin to the role of a griot in Africa, acting like a chronicler of his time and singing about everyday chores and social issues.”

[lesondesmusicales]

Lèspri Ka : New Directions in Gwoka Music from Guadeloupe 1981-2010 de V.A.

[clarisserambinaising]

Histoire de la Guadeloupe à travers le Gwo Ka (2/2)

La place du Gwo Ka dans la société guadeloupéenne Les soirées Léwoz Les soirées Léwoz sont nées en même temps que le Gwo Ka. Au 18

[clarisserambinaising]

Histoire de la Guadeloupe à travers le Gwo Ka (1/2)

Le Gwo ka est une musique guadeloupéenne importée d'Afrique par les hommes réduits en esclavage, durant la traite négrière. Celle-ci est cr