International » Caribbean Traditions » Chouval Bwa

Chouval Bwa is a rural Martiniquan style of music that evolved as accompaniment to the "manege" (or carousel). Originally featuring a large drum (like a bass drum), hand drums, and ti bwa, chouv' was led by melodic instruments like accordion, bamboo flute, and wax-paper/comb-type kazoos. One young artist, Claude Germany, is attempting to carry on the traditional form of chouval bwa, while others have updated it minimally (by the addition of electric bass) or dramatically (as in the case of zouk chouv', which features an array of electric instruments, including synthesizer). Chouval bwa is Creole for the French term "cheval bois," meaning "wooden horse."