French Kisses in the Carribean

A selection of great songs from great French artists from the Caribbean:


A traditional song from Guadeloupe, by gwoka legend Anzala.

Anzala Feat Esnard Boisdur - Krab Ka Déklaré


Another legend, the very deep singer and musician, Eugène Mona:


A song about the February 74 drama, when the police killed two demonstrators during a strike in Martinique.
Kolo Barst - Février 74



Alain Jean-Marie & Robert Mavounzy - Nous les cuisinières

Music from French West Indies

Great biguine and gwoka albums very rare can be downloaded on the great blog Listen to your ears which dig up LPs of the Caribbeans islands. Beside those albums from French Antilles (French West Indies), there are also a few albums from Guyane (a French territory in the north of Brazil).

Groove from the French Caraibes

I don't write much about French Caribbean (Martinique and Guadeloupe are overseas départements of France) because I know little about this music but there are amazing gems there. I highly invite you to listen to the great compilation made by Soundway Tumbélé! Biguine Afro and Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean.

I quote Soundway:

"This album showcases the vibrancy of the scene on the islands in the ‘60s and ‘70s – a scene that would go on to develop the all-conquering sound of zouk in the ‘80s. Uptown bands like Ensemble La Perfecta and Les Loups Noirs combine heavy rhythms and psychedelic effects in an inimitable style – check out the crazed Jet Biguine for a better idea! The deep and introspective sounds of Monsieur Dolor and Guadeloupean hero Robert Loison show the deep African roots of the music – songs born out of the plantations, with an insistent rhythm and mournful vocals that are unique to these islands."

Check also this great article on Mondomix about French Caribbean music:

By the way, for those who've downloaded my mixtapes, there were a few songs from Caribbean: Kassav' (volume 5) , A very old buigine from Martinique (volume 7), and the young Admiral T (volume 3).