Une vie à soi : Tambours battantes
Summary
This episode of "Un podcast à soi" explores the Guadeloupean tradition of Gwoka through the lens of the all-female group Fan Kika. Host Charlotte Bien-Aimée interviews members Marie-Hélène, Soad, Maggie, and Hena about their personal histories and the music’s role as a tool for resistance and cultural reclamation. The women discuss the historical marginalization of Gwoka and the specific challenges they face as women playing the drum, including gender-based exclusion and identity-based discrimination. Their stories highlight how the music serves as a vital space for community healing, femin…
Topics discussed
Introduction: The Gouka as a refuge and root
Arrival at the Fan Kika rehearsal in Pointe-à-Pitre
History of the Gouka: from slavery to resistance
Introduction of the Fan Kika members and the series
Marie-Hélène Lomuno: childhood, education, and career
Marie-Hélène's discovery of the Gouka in the 80s
The atmosphere of the Lèwo and the song 'Les Oiseaux'
Colonial naming, identity, and lack of reparation
Maggie Luther: discovering the Gouka and Guadeloupean identity
Henaë Luther: the spiritual and ancestral dimension of the Lèwo
Structural violence, trauma, and the power of resistance
Soelle Majan: background, family, and early musical exposure
Childhood experiences at the Lèwo and the sensory magic
Soelle's path to percussion and the challenges of feminization
Confronting sexism and a public controversy in 2018
Impact of the controversy and the rise of female drummers
Founding of the Fan Kika group in 2007
The ethos of Fan Kika: freedom, diversity, and song analysis
Recovering joy and inspiring the next generation
Credits and closing remarks
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