Gwo Ka: The Rhythms
The influences (lifesyle and musical genre) of the "master" fusioned with this base to create the seven rhythms or dances: the Lewoz, the Mindé, the Kaladja, the Grage, the Roulé, the Granjanbel and the Toumblak.
The Lewoz is the war rhythm, used to give rhythm the attacks against the plantations, but was also an incantatory dance.
The Kaladja symbolises the struggle in love.
The Pagenbel is the cane cutting dance.
The Toumblak, like the Kaladja, deals with the love theme, belly dance, fertility dance.
The Grage accompanies the agricultural work.
The Roulé is the "creole waltz", to charm and mimic the whites.
The Mindé would have been the last rhythm to arrive in the islands with the "Congos" under contract after the abolition. It symbolises the carnival, collective celebration.
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Famous quotes containing the word rhythms:
“Our father presents an optional set of rhythms and responses for us to connect to. As a second home base, he makes it safer to roam. With him as an ally—a love—it is safer, too, to show that we’re mad when we’re mad at our mother. We can hate and not be abandoned, hate and still love.”
—Judith Viorst (20th century)