San Fwontié – Gwa Ka, 1997

Jocelyn Virapin, who has been heard with Patrick Saint-Eloi, Pierre-Edouard Décimus and Bago, is also an ardent defender of the gwoka. Leader of the Beloka group, he also set up Gwa Ka, whose first album, San Fwontié, was released in 1997. He is joined on percussion by Simon Vespuce, José Belle Rose and Franck Simion. The album reaches out to Martinique, and in addition to the Ti Bwa played by Paul Gernidos, Gwa Ka invites Michel Alibo and Mario Canonge on a few tracks. There’s also an original featuring by Jacques Bolognesi, who swaps brass for accordion!