Summer Heat 2: An Island Story; The Gwo Ka sound of Guadeloupe

Make Me An Island

Dónal’s search for the perfect summer dancing soundtrack takes him to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe where he takes a deep-dive into the ancient Gwo Ka sound. The journey begins and ends in land-locked Zimbabwe however where we tune into the emotional sound of The Movers who are just about to have a comprehensive retrospective released by the ever-brilliant Analog Africa label.

We stop-over for another blast of Cape Verdean magic from Manuel Gomes before making land on Guadeloupe and immersing ourselves in the percussive trance-like sound of Gaoulé Mizig. We bed in to hear a raft of other examples of what is essentially participatory music born out of a spirit of resistance to French colonial rule from renowned exponents like Michel Laurent, Béloka and Jocelyn Virapin.

There’s also a couple of crossover classics to contend with from local heroes Les Vikings de Guadeloupe and Ti Céleste who brought their take on the Gwo Ka sound to a wider audience across the Caribbean.

This episode signs off with a quick trip to the mainland of Columbia for a taste of more summer heat to come from the regal Toto la Momposina.

Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:

The Movers

https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/the-movers-vol-1-1970-1976-analog-africa-nr-35

Manuel Gomes

https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/track/jelivr-bo-situa-on

Eric Virgal

https://disques-debs-international-strut.bandcamp.com/track/stanislas

Les Vikings de Guadeloupe

https://antillesseries.bandcamp.com/album/best-of-enko-on-ti-tou

Gaoulé Mizig

https://beautyandthebeat1.bandcamp.com/album/excursions-in-gwoka-vol-1-batb-005

Michel Laurent

https://beautyandthebeat1.bandcamp.com/album/excursions-in-gwoka-vol-1-batb-005

Toto la Momposina

https://totolamomposina.bandcamp.com/track/la-verdolaga

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