Contemporary Vitality

While honoring the past, this book firmly situates itself in the present. The French Caribbean today pulses with creative energy. In recording studios in Pointe-à-Pitre, young artists mix traditional gwo ka drums with electronic beats, creating new forms of zouk that speak to global audiences while maintaining distinctly Caribbean sensibilities. In the galleries of Fort-de-France, visual artists interrogate colonial history while imagining decolonial futures. In the schools of Cayenne, teachers navigate between French educational requirements and the need to validate local knowledge and languages.

The economic realities are complex and often challenging. Tourism brings needed revenue but can commodify culture. Agricultural traditions struggle against global market forces. Young people face the choice between seeking opportunities in metropolitan France or building futures on the islands. Climate change threatens coastlines and intensifies hurricanes. Yet within these challenges, innovation flourishes.