Gwo Ka Drumming from Guadaloupe

[sakuntuquaye]

Hi Folks,

I know this is a caribbean style of drumming but the sound of these drums remind me a bit of the Djembe. I had read somewhere where Mamady went to Guadaloupe and played with some of the Gwo ka folks...I'll have to reasearch it a bit more. These drums and style aren't very popular in the anglophone countries...Anybody have any info on them? I've been getting into them bit by bit and enjoying what I hear. Check out this Vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1wDXdi8H4&NR=1

They even have their own "djembe" style Gwo ka drum...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ch1kVeOOA

[sakuntuquaye]

Found it, Heres the story about Mamady in Guadaloupe...

http://www.lameca.org/dossiers/gwoka/vu ... a_eng.html

[Michel]

That's an interesting drum! Not hard to find who brought the djembe (-like drum) to Guadeloupe, since it is still part of France, like Martinique, which brings me to the question whether they have the same drums in Martinique? And when you think further: French Guyana? Saint Martin?

Like to go there to find out (and it's nice there, too)

Thanks for posting.

[e2c]

http://www.lameca.org/dossiers/gwoka/in ... c_eng.html

Michel, there are very diverse African-derived drumming traditions throughout the French (Spanish-, Dutch-)-speaking Caribbean as well as on the mainland in Central and S. America (regardless of the languages spoken). If you look - especially if you can do searches in French - you will find plenty of material on Martinique and on the other French-speaking/Kreyol-speaking islands.

There are barrel-shaped drums in Afro-Puerto Rican music, too - called bomba(s). (Also the name for the different versions of the rhythm played on them.) There are some terrific videos of bomba drumming and dancing on Youtube - look for folkloric music of Puerto Rico, "Loiza" (name of a town) and the last name "Cepeda."

For the folkloric music and dance of Martinique, start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Martinique

[e2c]

Map showing similar drums throughout the Caribbean: http://www.lameca.org/dossiers/gwoka/in ... n_eng.html