Creolization in the Caribbean Music-French
The Caribbean region enjoys a cornucopia of
cultures. The region portrays a true example of creolization as in addition to
the English speaking cultures; both in music and food - from Jamaica to British
virgin islands, the Caribbean region also features French-speaking cultures in
regions like Martinique, Guadeloupe, to Curacao. Researchers Gangelhoff and LeGrand (2019)
present various creolized forms of music in their book that are found in the
French-speaking regions. Balutansky and Sourieau (2016) discuss more on the french
west indies in their book, stating that regions like Martinique “ encounter of
a marvellous cultural complexity and of an immerse solitude.p.20” It is in
Martinique that I shall draw my first example of creolization in music within
the French West Indies. The fact that it is rich in culture, but often at the
mercy of regions like Guadeloupe and Haiti, I thought Martinique might have
more to offer, and that is why I chose it. Having faced multiple natural
disasters, the rich culture of Martinique has been affected, but belle music
still remains popular. Originating from the rural areas of Martinique, Bele
music was first considered “provincial” music until its explosion following the
negritude movement. Maddox (2015) in his research contributes to the subject-
extending wider through the incorporation of bèlè as a way of life, “bèlè is
not simply the name of a traditional dance” or music, “but the term bèlè is
used to describe an mannyè viv, or a way of life.
Common instruments to bèlè music, as
portrayed by Gangelhoff and LegRand (2019), include the tanbou, “a large
tambour drum made of a goat or sheepskin stretched over a barrel.”
The video above demonstrates how the drum
sounds when played as it features a bèlè artist, Robert Loyson-Gwo Ka legend “Garde A Vous”, performing
a song that “sings of a man fighting in Algeria” (Alzuphar, 2016).
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00H1OA2C4?do=play&ref=dm_ws_dp_ald_bb_phfa_xx_xx_xx
Robert Lyson’s album on Amazon Music.
If you take a close listen to the sounds
the artists make in this video, you will not fail to notice a distinct sound of
what Gangelhoff and Legrand (2019) describe as “two sticks that beta out the
characteristic bèlè rhythm on the back end of the tanbou.” The instrument used
to make those sounds and is popular in bèlè music is called tibwa, and together
with the tanbou, these instruments create an assorted percussion that perfectly
brings out call-and-response singing effects.
Another reason I chose bèlè music and the video
above is because; perceptively, bèlè slightly resembles both Vodou of Haiti;
only that Vodou incorporate metallic sounds instead of wooden sounds of the
tibwa- and the Shango ceremonial dances of Trinidad and Tobago. The link below
demonstrates Shango and Vodou traditional music. The drum beats possess a
resemblance with Vodou and bèlè featuring the call-and-response singing.
Video for vodou music in Haiti
The image above shows the tanbou of bele music.
Source: https://yt3.ggpht.com/ytc/AAUvwnhI812Edx4ykqi-WBnON1u9KI53k2AzQfXGm6Q8=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj
This video link below is a documentary on the origins of tibwa instrument in bèlè music
In the above video, Jacques-Schwarz-Bart
perfomring “Kontradans”-Vodou jazz. The reason why I chose this specific video
is the presence of the drummer while another is playing the saxophone. These
two instruments are the most common when playing Vodou jazz, even though there
are other instruments that can be used to play Vodou Jazz.
Source: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.qNtWd53B5K9jEGb2BlokVAHaOP?w=180&h=346&c=7&o=5&dpr=1.1&pid=1.7
In terms of food, Guadeloupe’s Accras is a
perfect example which are, “fried fritter sold as a snack” and are common in
most markets and restaurants in Guadeloupe. I like this delicacy because it can
feature as a fish-based snack as well as a vegetarian option which use the eggplant.
References
Alzuphar, A. (2016). The Bele dance of the
Caribbean. Retrieved from: https://worldmusiccentral.org/2016/03/14/the-bele-dance-of-the-caribbean/
Balutansky K. & Sourueau, M. (2016).
Caribbean Creolization. Retrieved from: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00061374/00001
Gangelhoff C. and LeGrand C. (2019) Tour de
force: A musical jouney of the Carribean
Madoxx, C. (2015). Drum, dance, and the
defense of cultural citizenship: Bèlè’s rebirth in contemporary Martinique.
Retrieved from: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0049216/00001
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