Culture of Guadeloupe

The islands of Guadeloupe witness the happy fusion of several cultures since their earliest settlements. The Arawak culture was followed by the Caribs and then the African and Asian cultures made theirvpresence felt after being introduced by the French as the work force in the islands. However, the different cultures have developed homogeneity for each other and today can be uniformly termed as the culture of Guadeloupe.

In the present scenario, Guadeloupe seeks culture affinity mainly with the French but also from African, East Indian and West Indian influence. This cultural influence is visible on in the architecture of their buildings, which range from French colonial to Hindu temples. The traditional house is square-shaped around 5 to 6 m long on each side (or 3 for the smaller ones) and is fitted with several doors shaded by wooden shutters. Its roof is generally made of corrugated iron, slightly tilted to ensure the proper evacuation of water during great downpours.

The cuisine of Guadeloupe is a fusion of the foods from all these nations, which has evolved into a unique Creole cuisine. Guadeloupe is the center of the Caribbean's Creole culture. The official language spoken is French but creation patois is prevalent in the homes. Death and its surrounding myths are of considerable importance due to their great belief in religious traditions and beliefs.

There is a famous saying for the islands, “In Antillean families, there is one child for each love story”. As a result, Guadeloupean women often live surrounded by their children of different parentage, each of whom is acknowledged by their own fathers. Families are often organized around the knowledge of these facts with mutual respect and very little conflict.

Guadeloupe is synonymous with festivities and celebrations. It celebrates various festivals throughout the year. Guadeloupe Carnival, the Festival of the Cooker, All Saint’s Day and the Feast of Victor Schoelcher are to name a few events and festivals celebrated and enjoyed with great vigor throughout Guadeloupe.

During the festivals and cultural events, the women of Guadeloupe wear traditional Creole dress, which is typically a full, brightly colored skirt, commonly a madras-type plaid of oranges and yellows with a matching headdress, a white lace-trimmed blouse and petticoat and a scarf draped over the shoulder.

The majority of expression of Guadeloupe’s culture is visible in the art form of the island. The most renowned native poet is Saint-John Perse, who wrote with a pseudonym of Alexis Léger. He was born in Guadeloupe in 1887 and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960 for the evocative imagery of his poems. One of his many noted works is Anabase (1925) was translated into English by TS Eliot.

Life in Guadeloupe cannot move forward without music. The elated beats of music fill the streets, busses and sports grounds at any time whether day or night. Guadeloupe is home to several popular dances. The well known among these are the beguine & zouk, which are distinctively Afro-French-Caribbean and calypso & reggae, which are distinctively Caribbean. Music and dance are an integral part of the Guadeloupe culture. The people find cultural unity in song and dance and therefore, can be seen singing and dancing at every occasion.</