ABSTRACT
Since 1946, Guadeloupe has been a department of France, and its official language is French, though the most commonly spoken language is Creole (Kwéyòl). Today, its population is about 375,000 persons. The colonization of Guadeloupe, which began in the 1600s, brought together African slaves and European planters and administrators. The 1800s saw the arrival of East Indians, who have played an important role in the local economy. Long ignored by the majority, East Indian musical traditions have recently been acknowledged as a constitutive part of the Guadeloupean heritage. They have yet to be documented.
