| Zouk, meaning party in creole, is a distinctively rhythmic music which originated in Martinique. Zouk draws heavily on the biguine (or beguine), an Afro-French dance music with a bolero rhythm which originated in Martinique in the 1930s. The lengendary band Kassav and Les Zouk Machine were one of the first groups to develop this kind of music. Zouk can have either an infectious, loping dance beat (chire or beton zouk), or it can have a seductive, ballad-like feel (zouk love). The instrumentation usually includes a brass section, two synthesizers, guitar and bass, and a rhythm section that includes a gourd shaker, conga, drum set and tumba. While having a remarkable inpact in the Antilles, Zouk also reaches worldwide audiences with its musical appeal. With its Carnival-like rhythm and hot dance beat, zouk has become as popular in Europe as it is in the French Caribbean. | Zouk |
