TALK AND DEBATE / CONCERT with RUDDY BOA “Discovering GwoKa”

GwoKa
Thu 26th Nov 2026 20:00

Bookings can be made on the website up to 30 minutes before the concert starts

Feel free to call us at +33 (0)1 42 33 37 71.

Bookings can be made on the website up to 30 minutes before the concert starts

Feel free to call us at +33 (0)1 42 33 37 71.

Talk and discussion: ‘Discovering GwoKa’ - 20h00
An iconic and foundational form of music in Guadeloupe, GwoKa has been passed down from generation to generation, from the painful days of slavery to the present day. Through the sound of voices, the beat of the drums and the passion of the dance, it expresses the very essence of this archipelago and its people. To discuss its history, its evolution and its traditional and modern practice, Ruddy Boa invites us to a discussion session moderated by Franck Salin (journalist, director and writer) in the presence of a panel of passionate artists. 
 

Concert: RUDDY BOA QUINTET ‘Echoes of the Plaza: GwoKa Resonance’ - 22h00
Led by pianist Ruddy Boa, this project is an invitation to discover or rediscover Gwo-Ka, an iconic rhythm of Guadeloupe, in a new light. Following on from ‘Tribute to Lockel & GwoKa Modèn’, this concert continues a musical journey that began in 1969, when Gérard Lockel introduced the Ka drum to the stage of the Le Plaza Cinema-Theatre. It was a revolution: GwoKa broke free from its traditional confines to become a boundless source of inspiration.

With ‘Echoes of the Plaza: GwoKa Resonance’, Ruddy Boa and his musicians are pushing the boundaries even further. Featuring original compositions and tributes to major figures such as Robert Oumaou (GwaKaSonné) and Kafé, this project blends GwoKa with other musical worlds: the contemporary jazz of Kris Davis, Vijay Iyer and Danilo Pérez.

It is also a rare opportunity to (re)discover the Karuka, a unique instrument devised by Ruddy Boa as a tribute to Gérard Lockel’s Gwadlouka. A vibrant experience, where tradition and modernity come together to create an unforgettable resonance.

 

 

Lineup

Talk and discussion session: ‘Discovering GwoKa’:
JONY LEROND “Sòmnanbil”, singer/dancer/tanbouyé player/composer
MAX DIAKOK, tanbouyé player/dancer/choreographer
RUDDY BOA, pianist/composer

Concert: RUDDY BOA QUINTET “Echoes of the Plaza: GwoKa Resonance”
RUDDY BOA – lead vocals/piano/Karuka
CORINNE PIERRE-FANFAN vocals 
ARLET FEUILLARD Ka drum/Karuka
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE RAUFASTE “JISSMAN”, bass
DYLAN CHOISI – drums / Karuka

Book

Bookings can be made on the website up to 30 minutes before the concert starts