Gwoka

The gwoka is a family of percussion instruments which is played with the hands that one uses in the traditional music inhabitant of Guadeloupe. There are 7 basic rates/rhythms of gwoka and multiple variations of each one.

The 7 rates/rhythms are:

Kaladja
Menndé
Léwoz
Padjanbèl
Woulé
Graj
Toumblak

The various sizes of the drums establish the base. Largest: the Boula plays the central rate/rhythm and smallest: the markor (or maké) mark the melody and interacts with the danceurs and the public ones/singer. The songs of the gwoka are generally gutturaux, nasal and rough, although it can also be luminous and smooth, and is accompanied by hamonies increasing and complex melodies.

The gwoka always is used in the countryside inhabitant of Guadeloupe at the time of popular assemblies called Lewozs , they are the most traditional demonstrations of gwoka modern in Gudaeloupe. The gwoka is always used during the carnival and other festivals like Christmas. A new more modern form of gwoka was popularized in the islands under the name of gwoka modern.

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