ZOUK

Zouk originally came from the French islands – Martinique and Guadeloupe – and was a great sensation in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Translated from French, Zouk means ‘shake intensely and rapidly’.  True to these words, Zouk has a rapid tempo and is often heard during Carnival and Festival times throughout the Caribbean, including ofcourse Dominica.

According to Carib Beat (1990), ZOUK can be defined as a combination of Antillean GRO-KA and MAMBO, Haitian CADENCE and MERENGUE, Latin SALSA and MAMBO, American FUNK, Ghanaian HIGH LIFE and Zairian SOUKOUS. As a result of this fusion, ZOUK can simply be dubbed as an AFRO-CARIBBEAN mix with EURO-WESTERN sensibilities.

Instruments such as drums, synthesizers, and guitars are often played in this genre of music.