Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti, St. Lucia, and Dominica. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local creole of French. In Africa, it is popular in franco- and lusophone countries. In Europe it is particularly popular in France, and in North America the Canadian province of Quebec.
The zouk music style was adapted in the early 1980s when many different styles were fused, such as co...
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Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti, St. Lucia, and Dominica. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local creole of French. In Africa, it is popular in franco- and lusophone countries. In Europe it is particularly popular in France, and in North America the Canadian province of Quebec.
The zouk music style was adapted in the early 1980s when many different styles were fused, such as compas, balakadri, cadence and bal granmoun, mazurka and biguine, French and American pop, and kadans, gwo ka and other indigenous styles.
The leading band to emerge from this period was the band Kassav' who came from Guadeloupe and Martinique. They gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from compas, reggae and salsa, and became the most famous Zouk band in the world. Kassav' was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus, a long-time professional musician who worked with Freddy Marshall. Together, they decided to take carnival...
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