by Johanna THIERSE
Martinique is a very special place. Indeed, on the one hand it is a Caribbean island and on the other hand part of a European nation. Its geographic position gives it a very peculiar culture, influenced by the different communities who have lived there. Its population was composed of former slaves, European colonists and Indian immigrants. These mixed traditions provided a singular way of life in Martinique. And what better way to represent a way of life than through music ?
. Traditional Style.
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Imported by African slaves, this style generally features drums or other percussion instruments . Slaves used drums as a way of forgetting their misery and preserving their African origins. This style is also found in other regions where slavery existed, so it is possible to see some likeness between Capoeira and Damier. | |
| ... and who can forget the traditional dances like Kalennda ... |  |
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The traditional music of Martinique also includes other styles imported by European colonists like Beguine or Mazurka. The inhabitants took this style and tamed it, so that today, whereas European people have nearly forgotten this old music, Beguine and Mazurka are as alive as ever in the musical culture of Martinique. |
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| Martinique is a Caribbean island, and so naturally under Caribbean influence. For example, Cuban or Jamaican music is very influential, and these are in turn influenced by American music. Since the beginning of the 90's one new style of music has particularly taken off in Martinique: Dancehall. Originally from Jamaica, the style is now found on all Caribbean islands. It is inspired by rap. Now people who have listened to it in their childhoods have tamed it. They sing in French or Creole, sometimes in English, and now music from Martinique dominates reggae-dancehall. |  |
| It is traditional music, but the young love it just as much as the old. Zouk is a modern variation of beguine or mazurka. There are two sorts: conventional zouk and love zouk. In Martinique, people love to dance to this music; it is something like a slow love song but much faster. There are some similarities between love zouk and American rhythm and blues, both in tempo and theme... The subject of these songs is always love. |  |
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