Exploring Caribbean Identity & Culture
Maëlla Kancel is from the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe now living in Paris. She is the host of the podcast Karukerament, a podcast available in French and English – about the representation of the Caribbean in cinema and television.
In this episode I chat with Maëlla about:
- Growing up in Guadeloupe and her experiences as a French Afro Caribbean Woman.
- Caribbean Identity & the struggle to define ourselves
- What Dancehall can learn from K-Pop
- How the Caribbean audience can propel our culture to be bigger.
References Mentioned
Caribbean Podcast Directory – September Podcaster Spotlight: Maëlla Kancel.
Zouk Music
Kassav – Most popular Zouk band from Guadeloupe. One of their most notable songs is Zouk La Sé Sèl Médikaman Nou Ni
Zouk song sampled by mainstream media without credit – “Spicy” by Diplo The zouk sample was “Vini Dou” composed by Joël Jacoulet.
Caribbean films
Le Gang des Antillais by Jean-Claude Barny – currently on Netflix about the Guadeloupean and the Martiniquan experience and disillusionment with France.
Maëlla’s review of Ô Madiana by Constant Gros-Dubois
Read: Rise of Caribbean Films
Stream platforms
Podcast Episodes
Carry On Friends Episode: American Born, Caribbean Raised.
Style & Vibes Episode discussing genre fusion in Reggae and Dancehall.
Flags
Since Guadeloupe is a territory of France, the official flag is the French flag. However, if you Google “Guadeloupe flag” you’ll find the 3 images below. According the Maëlla, the first flag is the new flag that Guadeloupeans are identifying with as part of their fight to be independent or recognized. It is designed by Misié Sadik.
Maëlla informed me that the 2 variations of flags at the bottom where the flags flown on Slave ships. Unfortunately, the blue version of the flag is what’s available as a flag emoji. As a result, as a Guadeloupean, Maëlla finds it hard “to drop her flag” when there’s a Caribbean social media roll call.
Let us know what you think about the episode!
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