Zouk
| Zouk | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 1980s, French Antilles (esp. Guadeloupe and Martinique) | 
| Typical instruments | |
| Derivative forms | Zouk-love, Kizomba | 
| Regional scenes | |
Zouk is a musical movement and dance pioneered by the French Antillean band Kassav' in the early 1980s. It was originally characterized by a fast tempo (120–145 bpm), a percussion-driven rhythm, and a loud horn section. Musicians from Martinique and Guadeloupe eventually added MIDI instrumentation to their compas style, which developed into a genre called zouk-love. Zouk-love is effectively the French Lesser Antilles' compas, and it gradually became indistinguishable from compas.