| Creative Space July 2010 |
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ZiNG 8 (July 2010) De artistry, lyricism, movement and expressions of the Caribbean, by Joanne Hillhouse. I have Dominican roots on my mother’s side, and if you know Dominica you know how pervasive the French influence is in the music, the language, and the culture in general. Despite these origins, I’m an Antiguan girl inside-out and thus raised on calypso and soca. But because of the cross-pollination of the music of the region, my early exposure to French Creole music came, ironically, via Antigua’s Burning Flames 1987 hit Tout Moun Dance [sic] – a tip of the hat to my country’s Dominican population. Then, of course, there was Kassav, the French Antillean group that popularised zouk globally, thanks to hits like Zouk La Sé Sèl Medikaman Nou Ni, which still has the power to enliven a party. It never ceases to amaze me how truly universal music can be. Martiniquean Kali’s L’Histoire du Zouk tells the story of how zouk is infused with elements of its predecessor Haiti’s compas/kompa, plus its English Caribbean cousins – calypso, reggae; its latin neighbours – merengue, salsa; North American elements – swing, jazz, funk; and, at the root, African and Caribbean folk. You don’t have to ‘parle kwéyòl’ – just listen, you’ll hear it all. In fact, you’ll hear the range of influences of the various sub-genres of French Creole in Tabou Combo’s classic Chale Lanmou, as well as in Emeline Michel’s pleasantly acoustic Moso Manman, and in Claude Vamur’s Tre D’Ynion – which celebrates the connection between Latin and French Creole music. And it’s not just about the sound. Emotion and sentiment comes through loud and clear in the likes of Carimi’s Ayitit (Bang Bang), which laments the state of the Haitian group’s homeland. Many of these great tunes show up on European world music label Putumayo’s French Caribbean CD, recently reissued with, according to their blog, (www.putumayo.com/blog/?p=737), 100% of the proceeds going to aid Haitian relief efforts. Of course, if you want to tap your feet, nod your head, and dance all night long to the music of the French Caribbean, Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival, held the last weekend in October every year since 1997, is the place to be. I attended once, and for three nights straight partied till morning to the strains of cadence-lypso, soukous and other forms of French creole music, including my favourite tune of that particular year Hosse’y, an infectious song that I still find myself dancing to from time to time thanks to the purchase of the WCMF commemorative CD Mizik a Nou. Over the years, the WCMF has featured everyone from home grown talent ‘First Lady of Creole’ Ophelia Marie and the always electric and soulful Michele Henderson, to Antigua’s Flames, Sean Paul, and even Haitian-American Wyclef Jean. The year I attended there was even a little Louisiana flavour with zydeco rhythms. It’s a hell of a party, but not for the faint of heart. Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of stamina – you’ll be on your feet dancing through the night. Last Lick Can’t wait? Tune into Marcella Andre’s Experience Creole, a popular Saturday night show on Antigua’s Observer Radio (http://www.live365.com/stations/observerradio?site=observerradio); which evinces the cross cultural appeal of the music. |
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