gwo ka

Musical traditions, born from the route of enslavement, will also be performed by Tazenco Gwo ka a; Anuanga, Masai' dancer; Mary Paz, Cuban eletropercussion; Gnawa music group Sefarat' al khafaa; Brazilian music group Afro Samba Project.

Nombreux artistes et musiciens seront presents entre autres, Maalem Hamid El Kasri et Humayun Khan -Maalem Omar Hayat - Sonny Troupe, l'heritier du gwo Ka - Maalem Mohamed Kouyou - Tony Allen, le virtuose de la batterie - Maalem Aziz Baqbou et Jauk - Amadou Bagayoko - Cheikh Tidiane Seck et le legendaire Salif Keita.

The French Caribbean is examined in "Guadeloupean Women Performing Gwo Ka: Island Presences and Transnational Connections" by Kathe Managan.

He focuses on kadril dance, gwo ka drumming, and mayoleur stick fighting/dancing, and how they play a role in constructing the self, including themes of dislocation, non- nationhood, French identity, and memories of slavery.

Murray's collaboration with the Guadeloupian Gwo Ka Masters a few years ago earned all manner of praise, too.

Other big names appearing at the festival, which runs from August 21 to 25 and is being supported by the Evening Telegraph, include David Murray, the Gwo Ka Masters from Guadeloupe, vocalist Stacey Kent and Annie Whitehead's all-woman big band.

Little documented, but central to island identity, are the genres of popular music (as typified in the sounds of the beguine, jazz, and zouk) and traditional music (as typified in the sound of carnival in general and the gwo ka and bele drums in particular).

Other acts lined up over the five days include British sax star John Surman, jazz singer David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters from Guadeloupe, Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava and Annie Whitehead's all-female big band.

The festival itself also includes acclaimed British saxophonist John Surman, jazz giant David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters from Guadeloupe, Italian Enrico Rava and BBC Radio 3's Stacey Kent.