Glossary of Key Terms

A

Accras (ah-KRAH): Fried codfish fritters, popular appetizer across French Caribbean

Antillanité: Literary/philosophical movement emphasizing Caribbean specificity, developed by Édouard Glissant

Arawak: Indigenous peoples (Taíno) who inhabited Caribbean before European colonization

B

Bèlè (bell-EH): Traditional Martinican dance, music, and storytelling form

Béké (bay-KAY): White Creole descendants of plantation owners, particularly in Martinique

Biguine (bee-GHEEN): Caribbean music and dance style that influenced jazz

Boudin (boo-DAN): Blood sausage, traditional dish with variations across islands

Bouyon (boo-YON): High-energy music genre from Dominica

C

Callaloo (kah-lah-LOO): Leafy green vegetable soup/stew, varies by island

Chanté mas (shahn-TAY mahs): Call-and-response singing during Carnival

Chlordecone: Pesticide used in banana plantations, causing lasting environmental damage

Colombo (koh-LOM-boh): Curry-based dish brought by Indian indentured workers

Conte (KOHNT): Traditional storytelling form

Coup de main (koo duh MAN): Community work party, mutual aid tradition

Créolité: Literary movement celebrating cultural mixing, proclaimed in 1989

D

Déboulé (day-boo-LAY): Early morning Carnival parade

Départementalisation: 1946 law making colonies into French departments

Doudou (doo-DOO): Term of endearment; also vendors who've sold in same market spot for years

G

Gommier (gohm-YAY): Traditional fishing boat; also the tree used to build it

Graj (grahj): One of seven gwo ka rhythms, expressing struggle

Gwadloupéyen: Guadeloupean Creole language

Gwo ka (gwoh KAH): Traditional Guadeloupean drumming and dance

H

Habitation: Plantation estate, historical term still used for some properties

K

Ka (KAH): Traditional drum made from rum barrel and goatskin

Kaladja: Gwo ka rhythm associated with work

Kalinago: Indigenous people (formerly called Caribs), surviving in Dominica

Kassav': Legendary zouk band from Guadeloupe

Kréyòl: Generic term for French-based Creole languages

L

Larouma (lah-ROO-mah): Plant used for traditional basket weaving

Léwòz (lay-WOHZ): Gwo ka rhythm for celebration; also social gathering with drumming

Liyannaj (lee-yahn-NAHJ): Concept of interconnection, solidarity

M

Madras (mah-DRAH): Plaid fabric used in traditional dress

Maré (mah-RAY): Traditional healer's treatment/spell

Maroon/Marron: Escaped enslaved people who formed independent communities

Mas (MAHS): Carnival costume/character

Matador (mah-tah-DOHR): Traditional Martinican costume

Matoutou (mah-too-TOO): Land crab dish traditionally eaten at Easter

Migan (mee-GAHN): Mashed breadfruit dish

Menndé: Gwo ka rhythm associated with fertility

N

Négritude: Literary/political movement reclaiming Black identity, led by Aimé Césaire

P

Padjanbèl: Competitive gwo ka rhythm

Patwa: Saint Martin Creole variant

Pitt (PEET): Cockfighting arena

Potomitan (poh-toh-mee-TAHN): Center post; metaphor for women holding families together

Pwent (PWEHN): Protective charm/spell

Q

Quadrille (kah-DREEL): European court dance adapted to Caribbean style

Quimbois (kim-BWAH): Traditional spiritual/healing practice in Guadeloupe and Martinique

R

Ravet (rah-VEH): Cockroach; metaphor for resilience

S

Sargassum: Invasive seaweed affecting coastlines since 2011

Sousou (soo-SOO): Rotating savings group

Swaré (swah-RAY): Evening gathering, party

T

Tassa: Fast-paced Indian drumming tradition

Ti-punch (tee-POHNSH): Traditional rum cocktail

Tibwa (tee-BWAH): Rhythm sticks used in bèlè

Tjenbwa (chen-BWAH): Spiritual practice in French Guiana

Toumblak: Gwo ka rhythm expressing strength

V

Vidé (vee-DAY): Street party following sound system trucks during Carnival

Vaval: Spirit/effigy of Carnival, burned on Ash Wednesday

W

Woulé: Gwo ka rhythm of seduction

Z

Zandoli (zahn-doh-LEE): Small lizard; also slang term

Zouk: Popular music genre created in 1980s Guadeloupe