On 26 November, Ruddy Boa will introduce the audience to GwoKa, Guadeloupe’s traditional music: a talk and discussion followed by a concert

Discovering GwoKa: a discussion session and concert with Ruddy Boa

Thursday 26 November 2026 / discussion session at 8.00 pm, concert at 10.00 pm

An iconic and foundational musical genre of Guadeloupe, GwoKa has been passed down from generation to generation, from the painful days of slavery to the present day. On 26 November, pianist and composer Ruddy Boa invites you to the Baiser Salé, a jazz club in the Les Halles district of Paris, for an evening in two parts: first, an opportunity to understand GwoKa, followed by the chance to hear it resonate on stage.

8.00 pm: discussion session ‘Discovering GwoKa’

Through the sound of voices, the beat of the drums and the passion of the dance, GwoKa expresses the very essence of the archipelago and its people. History, evolution, traditional and modern practice: the discussion, hosted by Franck Salin (journalist, director and writer), brings together a panel of passionate artists.

• Jony Lerond ‘Sòmnanbil ’: singer, dancer, tanbouyé, composer
• Max Diakok: tanbouyé, dancer, choreographer
• Ruddy Boa: pianist, composer

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

10.00 pm: Ruddy Boa Quintet, ‘Echoes of the Plaza: GwoKa Resonance’

It all began in 1969, when Gérard Lockel introduced the Ka drum to the stage of the Le Plaza Cinema-Theatre: GwoKa was breaking free from its traditional framework to become a boundless source of inspiration. Building on ‘Tribute to Lockel & GwoKa Modèn’, Ruddy Boa and his musicians push the boundaries even further, blending original compositions with tributes to Robert Oumaou and Kafé, whilst fusing GwoKa with the contemporary jazz of Kris Davis, Vijay Iyer and Danilo Pérez.

A rare opportunity to (re)discover the Karuka, a unique instrument devised by Ruddy Boa as a tribute to Gérard Lockel’s Gwadlouka.

• Ruddy Boa: lead vocals, piano, Karuka
• Corinne Pierre-Fanfan: vocals
• Arlet Feuillard: Ka drum, Karuka
• Jean-Christophe Raufaste ‘Jissman ’: bass
• Dylan Choisi: drums, Karuka

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Book: discussion session and concert

Practical information

• When: Thursday 26 November 2026, discussion session at 8.00 pm, concert at 10.00 pm
• Where: Baiser Salé, 58 rue des Lombards, Paris 1st
• Booking: online up to 30 minutes before the concert starts, or on 01 42 33 37 71