The Gwoka Festival of Sainte Anne, Guadeloupe, is still going on. It began on July 9 and will culminate with the July 14 (Bastille Day) celebrations. The festival includes music, dance performances, film,exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and the Forum on Culture, a series of debates on the four D’s— droit à la culture, démocratie culturelle, diversité culturelle, développement durable [the right to culture, cultural democracy, cultural diversity, and lasting development]. The events have been taking place on streets, beaches (notably, Plage des Galbas and Plage du Bourg, and Place Schoelcher, where various concerts are being held.
Bands and performers include Soft, Rasin Payi, Komodjaka, K’Koustik, Monza and Gzoup Ay Kosyé’, Compagnie Entre-Deux: Léna Blou, Sakitaw, Voukoum, Kan’nida, Bébé Rospart et Solboko, Kontakaz, Max Rippon, and I-Man, among others. The festival will culminate on July 14 with reflections on the gwoka, its influence and enduring place in Antillean culture, a luncheon, and the rhythms of Koséika, Indestwaska and Kimbòl.
Gwoka is considered the basis of Guadeloupan musical culture. Gwoka is the term used to refer to the dances, songs, and music produced with the ka, the traditional drum. This rich music and dance form was born during slavery at the beginning of the 18th century when slaves began using the drums as a means of communication, developing a code that would not be understood by the masters. Therefore, gwoka rhythms (usually variations based on seven traditional rhythms) have been considered liberating and contestatory in nature. Although gwoka has always been part of Guadeloupan life (practiced more commonly in rural areas at festivities or lewoz), since the 1970s, this musical form has had a renaissance and is considered a living part of the island’s cultural heritage.
For full program of events, see http://www.gensdelacaraibe.org/telecharger/2009/2009-programme-FGK-simple.pdf
Photo and definition from http://www.nouvellesantilles.com/guadeloupe-guide-tourisme-apprendre/traditions/gwo-ka-tradition-guadeloupe,4,9.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD0xMCZhY3Rpb249ZmljaGUmaWQ9MzI0Jnw%3D
[...] Although bèlè has been more and more accepted through time, for many years, Bizet suffered the stigma attributed to the dance, as socially inappropriate, when she began performing. However, she followed her mother’s footsteps in her love of the dance that has become a national emblem of cultural identity, dancing with groups such as Maframé, Bel Alliance, Matjoukan, Flan’m Difé, and K’Tam Perkisyon. Although it is difficult for Bizet to articulate her passion for bèlè, she insists that “one must live tradition.” She loves the sound of the drums and deeply appreciates the gwo ka and simply cannot imagine her life without dance. [Also see previous post, Guadeloupe: Festival Gwoka.] [...]
By: Leïla Bizet: Bèlè Dancer « Repeating Islands on August 26, 2009
at 11:33 am