Music
Legendary zouk pioneers Kassav’ bring their Sé’w Nou Enmé tour to London
Everything you need to know about Kassav', zouk and the biggest French band in history ahead of their UK summer gig
Imagine a crowd dancing together in euphoric unity, ignited by pulsing rhythms impossible to resist. Solid basslines syncopated to perfection, explosive horns sections, infectious keyboards and guitar riffs with soulful vocals that soar with conviction…
This is Kassav’.
Kassav’ deliver electrifying performances that transport fans who impressively sing every word, respond to every note, chant (with call-and-response), and know every creole lyric by heart. Understanding creole isn’t a prerequisite though, and the essence of zouk speaks through its unique swing, rhythm and emotional intensity; transcending languages, generations and backgrounds in a shared celebration where people dance from start to finish.
After seven years, French-Caribbean band Kassav’ will grace London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with a rare and highly anticipated one-off show on 24 May. A golden chance for UK fans to witness the legendary band up close.
To call Kassav’ a band is an understatement, they are a global phenomenon; a force with a rare longevity spanning over 45 years. With millions of albums sold, and a legacy of gold and platinum records, Kassav’ remain the most famous French band in history. Their zouk musical movement conquered the world far beyond Guadeloupe and Martinique resonating across Africa, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean Islands, the US, whilst also leaving their imprint in Japan and Russia. They’ve toured in over 82 countries, filling stadiums wherever they go.
Kassav’s timeless music and artistry has touched so many, including musical greats Miles Davis and Marcus Miller, who credited their signature groove as key influence on album Amandla (1989). Kassav’s global impact on the music scene has sparked various collaborations notably with icon Stevie Wonder on album Difé (1995).
And the admiration extends further: figures like Nile Rodgers, Youssou N’Dour and Wyclef Jean have paid homage to Kassav’. As have world-renowned figures like Peter Gabriel, Keith Reid, Gary Brooker, Matthew Fishe and DJ Gilles Peterson.
Many artists we hear today have been influenced one way or another by Kassav’s sonorities. Their cultural impact is so profound in African countries, that Angola dedicated a Museum (Le Musée du Zouk) in Kassav’s honour. Musicologists and ethnomusicologists, music historians and journalists have studied their compositions, dissecting how they revolutionised Caribbean Sound.
Kassav’ was founded in 1979 by visionary Guadeloupean musicians Pierre-Édouard Décimus, his brother Georges Décimus and Jacob Desvarieux. From their “music laboratory” they continuously pushed boundaries with state-of-the-art recording technologies and genre-blurring innovation. Their experiments culminated in many avant-garde projects and ultimately the birth of zouk-a genre now celebrated worldwide. The original band leaders featured charismatic lead vocalists Jocelyne Béroard, Jean-Philippe Marthély and the late deeply mourned Patrick Saint-Éloi; alongside musical architects Jean-Claude Naimro (keyboard), Georges Décimus (Bass), and late lamented Jacob Desvarieux (Guitar/Lead vocals), known for his signature voice.
Musically speaking, the DNA of Kassav’s sound is deeply rooted in Gwoka (Guadeloupean traditional drum patterns), Mas a Senjan (carnival’s heartbeat), and traditional Martinican Bèlè and Tibwa. These drum traditions trace their origins to West African heritage and the era of slavery. Gwoka is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, these rhythms carry histories of resistance, resilience and identity.
Staying true to its roots, Kassav’ always affirm and valorise their cultural identity through authentic musical expression, deliberately singing exclusively in Creole. Using the language’s poetic subtleties and metaphors, they’re able to articulate powerful storytelling with themes revolving around love, French Caribbean lived realities, history, cultural identity, politics and social justice. Kassav’ fostered a strong sense of belonging for Creolophone communities around the world.
Kassav’s signature sound is the embodiment of rich fusion of sonorities between tradition and modernity; exploring the entire Caribbean musical landscape including Biguine, quadrille, calypso, kadans, cadence-lypso, konpa, salsa, son, rumba, reggae, ska, soca. Yet, their sound is anything but insular, they brilliantly blend vast musical colours from blues, funk, rock, rhythm & blues, dance, disco, highlife, soukous, French pop and many other genres.
The band also owe its creative magic and impressive discography thanks to their unwavering solidarity as a band to support each other’s artistic expression and musical universe. This fostered an extraordinary depth of collaborations and led to multiple solo albums in parallel.
Today Kassav’s leaders continue to tour internationally, a testament to the power of their enduring legacy. They focus on intergenerational transmission by bringing a new line-up with the next generation of artists.
Their recent sold-out concert at the Accor Arena in Paris marked the 40th anniversary of their groundbreaking first album Love And Ka-Dance, and they now bring Sé’w Nou Enmé to honour the legacy of their late leader Jacob Desvarieux.
Tickets for London are selling fast, “An Nou Ay!” (Let’s go!).
Essential Kassav’ tracks to revisit before the show:
Kassav’ play London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 24 May. Find tickets here
Photo by Guillaume Aricique
