(Scroll for tracklist with timecodes)

One of the go-to terms for anything “tropical” nowadays, Zouk is a music genre born in the late 70’s in the French Antillean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Zouk's first iteration was crafted by the band Kassav’ when bandleaders Desvarieux and Décimus longed for a local "Disco-type music”, thus proudly proposing their own homegrown brand of pop. Carved around the foundation of an infectious pattern carried by hi-hat cymbals, Zouk was created as a weapon to elevate the status of frowned-upon Antillean cultural practices. It was a powerful response to the musical and political domination of France and other regions of the Caribbean. Kassav' paved the way for the groundbreaking genre to become both culturally relevant and commercially viable beyond the Antilles, reaching a career high in 1985 with a global hit in which they cheekily claim that Zouk is "the only medicine they need".

Borrowing elements from the neighboring islands - such as Cadence-lypso from Dominica and Compas from Haiti - Zouk’s signature sound was also shaped by the tools from the burgeoning digital age, as musicians and producers embraced the MIDI technology with its promise of fun through loop-programming. Many of these eager pioneers jumped head in and didn't shy from manufacturing anvil-sounding snare drums, wacky vocal modulations, epic horns, saturated bass and sexy synths... all of it duly drenched in reverb!

Perceived right away by some stiff necks as low-brow entertainment inducing lewd motions of the hips, Zouk was actually the result of incredibly sophisticated recording technology and visionary talent. Although derided in the distant French “métropole” - with hits from bands such as “La Compagnie Créole” and “Zouk Machine” relegated to camping and carnival DJ playlists - Zouk invaded the African continent within a decade. The familiarity of Zouk’s underlying rhythm spoke to many through the deep and complex web of pre-slavery roots connecting Africa to the Caribbean.

Whereas most white French music snobs disregarded Zouk as a synonym for bad taste and cheesy regionalism - sometimes with the racist tinge of colonial contempt - African listeners loved it for what it was: a kick-ass beat to sweat to, especially while dancing close to a partner. Since the early 80’s, African musicians have been paying homage to the couple-friendly genre, quoting words from the creole lexicon (“Doudou”) and blending in their own territorial twists: be it in francophone (Makossa, Rumba, Soukous) or lusophone countries (Tarraxinha, Kizomba, Coladeira). A lot of Afro Zouk legends actually met, hung out and worked in recording studios and DJ booths of the cosmopolitan city of Paris, which has been acting as the cross-pollinating hub of French-speaking black diasporas since the 70's.

00:00 · Kibwe - La Nuit des Noces (D.R.C.)
05:08 · Angelina Tezanou - Poison (Cameroon)
07:29 · Tunis de Lálá - Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde )
10:02 · Sekouba Bambino - Irréprochable (Guinea)
12:51 · Zo Gang International - Bébé Bonbon (Ivory Coast)
15:11 · Petit Tchadien - Pauvret (C.A.R.)
19:04 · Saluky System - Silvia (Guinea Bissau)
21:47 · Elvis Kemayo · Les Divorcés (Cameroon)
24:47 · Projecto Universo - Zouk Love (Ivory Coast)
27:39 · Kanda Bongo Man - Nzambe (D.R.C.)
30:24 · Americo Gomes - Indijan (Guinea Bissau)
33:14 · Júlio Silva Band - Mozambique a Xonguile (Angola)
35:48 · La Diva Samra - Yenaladha (Comoros)
38:28 · Idi Sarki - Rouwan Zouma (Niger)
41:07 · Shakira Shakiraa - Teriba (Uganda)
43:01 · Nimon Toki Lala - Fous Moi Le Camp (Togo)
45:18 · Bétika - Je l'aime (Ivory Coast)
47:13 · Boy Ge Mendes - Kompa Semba (Cabo Verde)
50:40 · Keke Kassiry - Bakwonon Zo Gnimadere (Ivory Coast)
52:22 · Kumbi Saleh - Eku Egbemi (Ghana)
56:42 · Tchico Tchicaya - Escale aux antilles (D.R.C.)
1:00:22 · Woya - Êwê (Ivory Coast)
1:02:53 · Lady Isa - Kuteleza Si Kwanguka (D.R.C.)

Afro Zouk, Vol. 2 • Bonded By Beat

Bar dj, but most of the time tireless listener, unconditional love for funky freaky world music. 



istagram: ciao sono tazio

French-born & Berlin-based Boris Paillard a.k.a. Mixanthrope has been shaking up dancefloors from Canada to Ghana since 2015 with African, Afro-diasporic and Afro-Caribbean songs & sounds. After working for the label "Akwaaba Music" in Accra, he created the monthly event series "African Beats & Pieces" in Berlin in 2017, inviting passionate DJs and underground live acts to explore specific musical themes.

► djmixanthrope@gmail.com

Resident DJ & organizer of regular Afro-centric music parties in Berlin since 2017: "African Beats & Pieces"
╚» https://www.facebook.com/AfricanBeatsAndPieces/

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P A S T     G I G S

Berlin: Monarch | Badehaus | Gretchen | MAAYA | Humboldthain Club | YAAM | HAU | Prince Charles | ACUD Macht Neu | ZK/U | Schrippe Hawaii | Haubentaucher | Crack Bellmer | Artistania | Suicide Circus | Alte Kantine
France : Connexion Live | Intermédiaire | Bric à Brac
Accra: Republic | Tea Baa | Rockstone's Office
Toronto: Alliance Française | Radio-Canada | Supermarket
Antananarivo: Chez Papa

owner of Chiriquí Rec

Palka es una colaboración entre Nicolas Charneau y artistas del mundo. Nicolás es un joven productor y cantante de Francia y Panamá. Empezó a tocar flauta traversa a los 6 años. Su experiencia de productor comenzó haciendo música electrónica y world inspirada de países de África y Latinoamérica. El estilo de su música se dirige también hacia el reggae y el pop latino : su música, inspirada por la cultura latina, el Caribe y por artistas tal como Manu Chao, artistas del Pacífico Colombiano, o artistas europeos como El Búho, Yeahman, se caracteriza por los siguientes adjetivos: soleada, meditativa, a veces orgánica y otra veces callejera. El objetivo de su música es invitar al viaje.

Artist from Panama.

Afro Zouk, Vol. 2 • Bonded By Beat

Mixanthrope (African Beats & Pieces)