Back in June, we took a deep dive into ‘70s and ‘80s jazz and fusion from Guadeloupe and Martinique. As our guide Julien Achard of Digger’s Digest recalled of the time he first heard the music in the early ‘00s: “There was almost no info on the internet—no YouTube sound clips. To discover music, you basically had to own the records.” Today, with algorithms sending the curious off into exploratory corners, discoveries like those are much easier to come by. While searching for Guadeloupean guitarist Gérard Lockel, pioneer of Gwoka Moderne, or his Martinican contemporary the flautist Eugène Mona, who linked jazz and bèlè, you’re soon down a rabbit hole discovering artist after artist after artist. Because today in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the diaspora, a new generation are looking to the old sounds of the islands to take their own music forward.
In response to this new wave, Paris raised producer Cris ‘As Valet’ Davidas founded Oioji Records in the spring of 2024. “There was all this talent coming from this part of the Caribbean, but it wasn’t being recognized,” says Davidas. “So it was very important to create a platform where we can share all this great music from our islands, and to make a link between the old music and the new.” Davidas grew up in Paris the son of Martinican emigres who had arrived in the French capital in their 20s as part of the BUMIDOM labor recruitment operation. “There was a lot of music in my house from Martinique growing up,” he says. “To be honest though, in the ‘80s and ‘90s me and my friends didn’t want to listen to the same music as our parents. We found our independence through hip-hop, soul, and funk.”
Compact Disc (CD)
It was only in the early ‘00s that Davidas started to reach back to his roots. “I was listening to Osunlade and other Afro stuff and thought ‘We have these kinds of rhythms in my islands.’ So I started to connect with my own musical heritage,” he says. “From there, I began to read Martinician writers like Aimé Cesaire and Frantz Fanon. I also asked questions of my family and they introduced me to all of their records that I didn’t want to hear growing up. So Marius Cultier, Eugène Mona and all of those people.”
Under his production moniker As Valet, Cris Davidas (who started his musical journey in the soul- and jazz-rooted hip-hop quartet Electric Conversation) sought a spiritual connection to his ancestral roots on his third album, Inner Journey. “I had a light turned on and thought ‘I have to do something with our musical legacy and heritage, because it’s a part of me and needs to be protected and transmitted to each generation,’” he says.
Vinyl LP, Vinyl
For Canne à Sucre from 2022, As Valet went deeper, drawing on the French Caribbean rhythms of gwoka and bèle for an album that took his hip-hop into unchartered waters. Finding a space between the ancient and futuristic, as well as the organic and electronic, the album’s guests included Guadeloupean Ka drummer Sonny Troupé and vocalist Raphaël Neblai.
Davidas’s launch of Oioji Records was a natural progression as he became drawn deeper into his island’s past as a way to to navigate the future. The label delivered an homage to Moune De Rivel (Cécile Jean-Louis Baghio’o) by the Paris-based Martinican DJ/producer Queen Ci. “With this work, Queen Ci honors the legacy of this multifaceted artist who stood as a guardian and ambassador of Creole musical heritage,” says Davidas.
Born to Guadeloupean parents, De Rivel was a multi-hyphenate before her time. A singer, musician, actress, and painter, she became an icon for the diaspora performing in Antillean nightclubs in Paris. Amongst her releases were rootsy béguine (or biguine) albums like Fête Aux Antilles Avec Moune De Rivel from 1964, recorded with the orchestra of French Guadeloupean trombonist and guitarist Al Lirvat. Originally released for Léon Moussinac’s label Le Chant Du Monde, it got a timely re-issue in 2018 on the Marseille-based imprint Johatsu.
For Queen Ci, Moune’s work was as revolutionary as it was empowering—an antecedent for her own creoleness in the club and queer cultures she inhabits. She celebrates this rich cultural melange as the founder and curator of the Creology parties that are held in venues across Paris. “It’s a very important movement to connect all the French Caribbean diaspora not just in music but in dance and literature,” says Davidas. “Queen Ci really is on a mission to develop the Creology movement across France and then to extend into Martinique and Guadeloupe, so it’s really interesting.”
On the new EP for Oioji Records, Queen Ci epitomizes the ways that the new generation are digging into the past to create music. “Queen Ci brings together the richness of traditional Biguine with the vitality of House music, delivering a unique fusion that reflects her roots and commitment to cultural preservation,” says Davidas. “People love the music of Osunlade with the Yoruba influences so for me this is the same only with our musical legacy.”
T-Shirt/Shirt
The latest signing to Oioji Records is another DJ/producer turned event organizer. “Rickysoul (The CP30) is one of the key figures in the House dance movement in Paris. As the founder of the House An Nou movement, he is bringing together house dance with Gwoka, Bèlè and other Caribbean music like Zouk,” says Davidas. “Dance is, of course, a really important part of both Gwoka and Bèlè in the ceremonies where they connect with the tambouyés (drummers). This is continuing that tradition.” Rickysoul is also a member of the Oswéla “Space dancetrumentists” collective: Five musicians and dancers who are mixing house, hip-hop and broken beat with Afro-Caribbean influences.
Rickysoul launched House an Ou in early 2023 around the same time he released his first EP through Bandcamp—a house music version of “Chant Lendepandans” by Gérard Lockel, the creator of the Gwoka Modèn movement in the 1970s. He followed it with a jacking acid house tribute to Group NSI, who recorded foundational Zouk/Funk records in the early 1980s. For his first EP for Oioji Records Elektronik Révolisyon Vol 1: Gwokhouse, Rickysoul has created a potent blend of acid house and Gwoka percussion. “It’s a celebration of Ricky’s deep connection to his cultural heritage while showcasing his artistry,” says Davidas. “With deep basslines that Ricky plays himself, this EP bridges tradition and innovation in his own unique way, taking things forward while respecting the past.”
He does so alongside other similarly minded contemporary music makers from Guadeloupe, Martinique and the diaspora. We asked Davidas to talk us through some of those artists.
Eugène Neighbours
Wouj Vè Nwè Dialektics
“This was the second release on the label. Hailing from Martinique, Eugène’s first LP for us, ‘Wouj Vè Nwè,’ translates to ‘Red, Green, Black’ in Creole, symbolizing the colors of the Martinican independence flag. His album reignites the powerful voices and revolutionary thoughts of iconic figures from the French-speaking Caribbean. He channels the legacies of Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon, and Eugène Mona—their words, reflections, and transformative actions. The work serves as a call to awaken consciousness in a time of intense political and social tension, with rhythms grounded in the ancient Bèlè tradition and fused with modern electronic influences. The torch of heritage and resistance must continue to burn bright.”
Samuel Laviso
ANTI TROPHY
“Son of the legendary Guadeloupean self-taught multi-instrumentalist Christian Laviso, who was part of Edouard Ignol’s band (known as “Kafé”) as well as the celebrated late ‘70s/early ‘80s group Kalevé, Samuel carries forward the family’s musical legacy. With ANTI TROPHY, he pays homage to Gérard Lockel, infusing his art with drums, synthesizers, flute, and the voice of Guadeloupean singer Meemee Nelzy. A powerful contribution to 2024’s musical landscape, it stands as a testament to cultural perseverance and the uniqueness of modern Caribbean sounds.”
Polobi & The Gwo Ka Masters
Abri Cyclonique
Compact Disc (CD), Vinyl LP
“This is Moïse Polobi on vocals, accompanied by Klod Kiavué on the Ka drum and Christian Laviso on guitar. Produced by Doctor L—who’s also the producer for the iconic French rap group Assassin and Mbongwana Star—their music transcends genre with a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation. By merging gwoka, hip-hop, electro, and dub, they transport listeners into a cosmic and ancestral journey, connecting with the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. This is music that speaks to the strength and spiritual essence of Guadeloupe’s natural and cultural heritage and I love it.
Célia Wa
Wastral
Vinyl LP
“A flutist, percussionist, singer, songwriter and producer from Guadeloupe, who trained at the renowned George Troupé school in Saint Anne, Guadeloupe, Célia Wa is a beacon for her generation. Through her music and messages, she embodies strength and determination. I particularly love her song ‘Pa Ka Lagué’ as it exemplifies the courage to persist, offering inspiration to rise above the challenges of daily life. Her album Wastral is monumental, a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Creole culture including the Gérard Lockel referencing “Wake Up”. Try and catch her live to feel the full force.”
Sonny Troupé
Romance
“A masterful multi-instrumentalist who learned his craft in Guadeloupe and Paris. Sonny’s Ka drum and other drums are his tools of expression. He can be found blending rock and rap with the group Ausgang, or leading his own group Expéka, where he masterfully combines the Ka drum and sampler alongside Martinican rapper Casey; Celia Wa on vocals, flute and percussion; and a bunch of others. He also appeared on Selene Saint-Aime’s album Potomitan. I invited him to play on my album Canne à Sucre. ‘Romance’ is modern day Gwoka fusion inspired by the elders but very much relevant to now.”
Kwamé “Fenyan” Ba
Douvan Douvan
“A musician from Martinique with Senegalese heritage now based in France, Kwamé “Fenyan” Ba is part of a new generation of artists pushing the boundaries of Caribbean music by blending it with jazz, house, and broken beat. As a member of the Oswéla collective with Rickysoul, his music is deeply rooted in tradition while being unmistakably modern. His individuality lies in his ability to seamlessly merge sound and movement, as dance remains central to his creative expression. Douvan Douvan is his 2023 album about legacy and resilience.“
Mano D’Ishango
GWADLÒV (PÉYI AN MWEN) MIZIK
“As one half of the Guadeloupean hip-hop/soul group IshangoSound, Mano D’Ishango is a lyricist and producer who navigates between genres—most notably hip-hop and zouk—while paying tribute to the pioneers of Caribbean music. His approach makes him a compelling figure in today’s scene. With this album from 2022, Mano honoured the legacy of George and Pierre-Édouard Décimus, founders of the legendary group Kassav, ensuring that the spirit of their music continues to inspire future generations.”
Meemee Nelzy
Closer
“One of the first of the new generation to pioneer the fusion of soul and Caribbean sounds, Meemee Nelzy stands as a true ambassador of Guadeloupean Soul. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, she champions heritage, blending her cultural roots with contemporary music. In doing so she creates a uniquely Guadeloupean soul sound. I love this EP of hers from 2023 a classic Creole soul record that stands up against anything from America or Europe.”
