TRADITIONS
The Guadeloupe Islands are bound together by the rich ethnic diversity that characterises their folklore, language, music and beliefs. A land of many influences – African, European, Indian, American and Oriental – the Guadeloupe archipelago has a multi-faceted identity where Indian rites, African memory and the rule of the 17th-century colonists are part of everyday life.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Music and dance form an integral part of everyday life in Guadeloupe.
Biguine, a traditional form of music and dance with many origins, is part of Guadeloupe’s culture.
Gwo Ka, inherited from African culture, was originally associated with workers’ songs and accompanied by drums. Dances such as the lewoz and the toumblack are closely linked. A Gwo Ka festival is held in Sainte-Anne in July each year – one of the major cultural events in Guadeloupe drawing both locals and many visitors. Nowadays, Gwo Ka is taught in schools.
Zouk, which translates as “party” and which originated in Guadeloupe, is a form of music and dance made popular by the group “Kassav” in the 1980s.
The quadrille, imported in the mid-17th century, is a dance performedin square formation under the orders of a commander who dictates the steps: la poule (hen), la pastourelle (shepherd girl), le pantalon (trousers) and so on
FROM MEMORY TO MODERNITY
The ancient stones carry the memories and history of the islands within them. Museums, fortifications, ruins, listed properties and archaeological collections are a testimony to the archipelago’s fascinating past. Works by the archipelago’s authors promote a modern image of a mixed-race nation, and its poets, novelists and playwrights have found their place in contemporary literature. Today its painters, sculptors and designers are creating real dynamism, with a resolutely modern style inspired by their traditional roots.
As Guadeloupe is an overseas territory of France, it uses the French tricolor as its national flag. Guadeloupe also has its own regional flag but it is not used for official purposes. The regional flag has two horizontal bands of blue (top) and black (bottom).
The upper band is blue in color and features of three gold fleurs-de-lis; the lower portion is black and features green sugar cane leaves surmounted by a gold radiant sun. The sugarcane is one of the main crops of the nation and hence its use in the flag. The sun stands for the tropical climate that the island nation experiences.
The unofficial flag of Guadeloupe is a white field which consists of a logo that features a stylized sun. The logo also depicts a bird on a blue and green square. Below the logo REGION GUADELOUPE is inscribed and underlined in yellow.
The official flag used as the national flag in Guadeloupe is the French Tricolor.
Culture is alive and well in the streets of Guadeloupe, not just in its museums. Its literature, music, paintings, and crafts offer a glimpse into this complex yet exciting world. Just prick up your ears, sharpen your senses, open your heart, and you’re bound to fall in love with this amazing place.
