Since 1982, June 21 has been a day to celebrate music not only in France, but in more than 110 countries around the world. Every year, Guadeloupe offers numerous concerts throughout the archipelago, carried out by groups, concert halls, restaurants, associations and communities.
Stages are set up everywhere for musicians who never miss an opportunity to perform. The sound emanates from all sides, creating moments of interaction between the public and artists, professionals, amateurs and even aspiring artists.
Guadeloupe: a rich musical heritage
Guadeloupe and all the islands that make up the archipelago are of great importance for the crossroads and the mixing of cultures. African, European and American music intersect, but the great strength of the region has been the creation of new musical genres. Guadeloupe is one of the main symbols of this wealth, because it has a very strong musical flow. Gwoka, zouk, quadrille, mazurka or even La Biguine were born there and survived despite the strong influence of music from other countries.
The French Antilles, in particular Guadeloupe, are home to original, popular music, which acquired international recognition with the success of zouk in the 1980s. Zouk is particularly well known in France and represents an important symbol of Guadeloupe. Zouk has its roots in Caribbean folk music such as Gwoka from Guadeloupe, but it also has pan-Caribbean origins.
A music festival open to the world
Lovers of all types of music, Guadeloupe and Guadeloupeans know how to listen and welcome the influences of their neighboring islands. Ragga is thus emerging as one of the last major local cultural changes. Produced entirely from Jamaica, ragga (or dancehall) quickly established itself and artists quickly became big names in the genre.
Also worth noting is kako, a genre that emerged in the early 2000s, combining traditional music with more modern sounds, and even rap. The genre is also rooted elsewhere in Guadeloupe, led by committed artists. The music festival in Guadeloupe is the best scene to listen to ragga and rap through a large number of concerts that are organized for the event. A popular, eclectic, festive music festival in which all styles are present to satisfy a population of all ages and from all walks of life.
Dance at the heart of the Guadeloupean music festival
Dance is inseparable from music in Guadeloupe. It is a vector of gathering, conviviality and occupies a predominant place in the local culture.
The older generation is mostly attached to the musical tradition with folk costumes. Ancient sounds such as the Bèlè, the Kalenda or the Biguine and the Mazurka are still very popular. For the youngest, sometimes less sensitive to traditional music, they have a perfect command of modern-day zouk and ragga hip.
A set of dances that accompany Caribbean vibes during a music festival in which you can immerse yourself in an archipelago where dance and music are a daily religion!
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