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Zouk music, though relatively new, has put Martinique on the world music scenario. Zouk, a Creole word originally slang for party, came to the fore in the 1980s, with its basis in cadence music. |
Cadence was a French Antillean pop music sound largely heard at these "zouks" before the groundbreaking group Kassav, featuring self-professed zouk music founder Jacob Desvarieux, set Martinique and its French Antilles neighbor Guadeloupe on another musical course.
Zouk, which along with cadence is related to beguine, merengue, danzon, and guaguanco Caribbean musical styles, features both traditional and high-tech musical instruments.
Usually zouk bands include guitar, bass, a brass section, two synthesizers, and a rhythm section with a conga, tumba, gourd shaker, and conventional drum set. The beat of a conga or a drum, for instance, may be manipulated electronically to create an entirely new sound. Lyrics, mostly sung in Creole, are often equally joyful, centering on celebration.
At the heart of the zouk sound are two main African elements, the drum and vocal gwo ka (performed in the rural areas of Guadeloupe during festivals), and the festival music chouvel bwa, from Martinique.
Chouvel bwa is performed in Martinique at the annual Carnival, held in either February or March, as well as at other festivals. This rhythmic music relies mainly on the tambour drums. Other percussion instruments include the large lead drum, the bel-air, timbales, and chachas, which are gourds filled with stones. Ti bois, pieces of bamboo, are also hit by percussion players to add to the sound.
Martinique's night spots are filled with the sound of dance music zouk mainly during the Carnival. Carnival, or "Vaval," as Martinique locals call it, starts right after New Year's Eve with each village creating floats and costumes in preparation for the big event. Zouk music now features during the main carnival celebrations.
As for other times of the year, each Saturday in Martinique zouks are held. During these, zouk music can be heard in bars, night clubs, and even on buses.
