Carnival in
the Guadeloupe Islands

Carnival in the Guadeloupe Islands

Carnival is an institution in the Guadeloupe Islands! It's almost 2 months of intense festivities in the streets of the archipelago!

A festive, joyous and colorful occasion, it's eagerly awaited every year!
It runs from the first Sunday in January to Ash Wednesday, the day when Vaval, King of Carnival, is buried..

While Carnival is intended to be a time of celebration, it is also an opportunity for the population to send out political messages, often in the form of derision.

Carnival is a highlight of Guadeloupean culture. It's a time to show off your creative spirit, with lively music, graceful outfits and lively choreography!

A fixture of the Guadeloupe Islands for over 150 years, 'Mas vyé fò' is one of the archipelago's oldest carnivals. Discover the different carnival groups that parade through our streets.

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THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARNIVAL GROUPS

The ‘Po bands’ owe their name to the drums they use, which are made of goat or sheep skins.
They use traditional instruments such as the chacha (or shakers) and the trombophone (a conch shell transformed into a wind instrument).

They come thick and fast, and two types of music are played: gwo siwo (mainly by groups from Basse-Terre) and Sen Jan (mainly by those from Grande-Terre). They emerged in the 1980s against a backdrop of identity claims, and now play a central role in preserving the Carnival of yesteryear.

The two best-known groups are Akiyo and Voukoum.

The snare drum bands are distinguished by the sound of their instruments, which is very similar to that of the Rio Carnival.

The outfits are often extremely colorful, requiring countless hours of work. The snare drum bands are the ones who brought the principle of the float into the Carnival tradition.
They create group choreographies in which nothing is left to chance.

'Ti Mas' bands are those who play on the humor register the most. They caricature current events and are often dressed up in monkey masks and flashy outfits.

Although in the beginning these groups had no musicians, it's increasingly common for them to be accompanied by instruments.

The masses like to crack whips, much to the delight of the children, who in turn try to make their own.

'Synth bands' originated in Basse-Terre.
These are bands who take sound equipment on board flatbed trucks.

They're often described as 'sound systems on wheels'. The music truck is followed by musicians, and it's usually behind them that band members and spectators end up dancing together, so much so that the frenzied rhythms call for participation.

The various parades

The major Carnival parades all take place during the "jours gras". The first is held on Shrove Sunday in Pointe-à-Pitre. All the groups march and compete for music and overall presentation.
On Shrove Monday, two parades are held.

One in Basse-Terre for the night parade, and the other in Saint-François for the choreography competition.
Shrove Tuesday is undoubtedly the biggest parade, but also the most demanding, as it takes place in the steep streets of Basse-Terre. It is during this final parade that the most floats can be admired.

The following day, Ash Wednesday, Vaval is burned to the ground and turned to dust for a year, marking the end of the festivities.

Carnival highlights

The big parades are obviously the highlights of Carnival, but there are other key moments such as the Carnival Queen elections, the 'Lévé pyjama' that takes place very early in the morning on Shrove Monday, or the burlesque wedding that takes place on the same day.

Children are not to be outdone, either, as there are parades dedicated to them, where they take part in a competition to reward their creations. They even have their very own queen, who parades with the grown-ups during the 'Jours gras'.