Founded in 1979, the lively music of the band
Kassav’ draws on the rhythms of Guadeloupe’s gwo-ka and Martinique’s ti-bwa. What came forth was zouk, a new Afro-Caribbean style which quickly conquered Latin America, followed by Africa, Europe and even Asia. Based in Paris, the group of musicians and singers have toured extensively since the eighties. The quick, jittery drum rolls and pointed horn sounds were a welcome counterpart to disco and new wave. The group has released over twenty albums, often rewarded with gold and platinum discs. They all have modern carnival music at their heart, sometimes with politically engaged lyrics. There have been guest performances by Stevie Wonder and several reggae artists. Today Kassav' is still the same mesmerizing band giving original African rhythms a modern and Caribbean twist.
