Despite a modest presence in terms of numbers, Martinique shone with the strength of its artistic and cultural offerings at CARIFESTA XV. Richès Karayib looks back at the commitment of the artists, the impact of their performances and the symbolic significance of a participation that reveals all the creative wealth of the island.
Artistic creation at CARIFESTA XV: three expressions, one territory
The band Tras La
The “Lanmè ka pran, lanmè ka ba” show by the group Tras La led by La Soso (Sonya Marc), transported the audience into a sensory fresco around the Caribbean Sea, a deeply symbolic and embodied show.
Composed of two tableaux, this show weaves a sensitive link between memory, historical drama and living celebration:
The first part, Lanmè ka pran – the sea that takes, pays tribute to the lives of those lost in the transatlantic crossing, as well as to figures such as journalist André Aliker and the victims of Chalvet, all linked to history and the sea.
The second part, Lanmè ka ba – the sea that gives, is rooted in transmission and vitality: fishing, the Yoles, love, the beach, popular festivals.
The choreographic staging combines water, bodies, drums and intimate stories, making the sea a central player in our collective memory.
For La Soso, this show makes perfect sense in Barbados, in a Caribbean linked by the sea, where it is becoming urgent to overcome linguistic and political barriers to reinforce a natural meeting between Caribbean people. This is the very spirit of CARIFESTA XV.
Boris Reine-Adélaïde
Boris Reine-Adélaïde a.k.a. Boris Percus, delivered a striking solo performance, fusing the traditional Martinican bèlè drum with an electronic sampler. Alone on stage, he creates live music that blends Afrobeat, Congolese rumba, drill, dancehall and Brazilian influences.
This powerful sonic journey, rooted in tradition but open to the world, sketches out a contemporary Martinique, in dialogue with the music scenes of Africa, Europe and Latin America. It’s a way of telling the island’s story in a different way, through rhythm, improvisation and technology, in perfect harmony with CARIFESTA XV.
The association: D’Antilles et d’Ailleurs
Finally, the association D’Antilles et d’Ailleurs made a strong impression with the Made in Women brand, carried by designer Alba.
In addition to an exhibition and sales stand at the festival, the team presented their creations in a highly acclaimed fashion show.
The pieces, made from recycled fishing nets, combine contemporary aesthetics, ecological commitment and territorial roots. Alba defends a strong vision of Caribbean fashion: conscious, circular, and connected to the social and environmental issues of everyday island life. This message found a particular echo in CARIFESTA XV.
Cultural diplomacy: political presence and regional cooperation
While the stage was taken by the artists, Martinique’s political representatives also played a key role. Marie-Ange Ravin and Dominique Pompée, representatives of the Collectivité Territoriale de Martinique, took part in strategic meetings, notably with Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of Culture in the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados.
Objective: strengthen inter-regional cooperation in the cultural field, support artistic mobility and promote Caribbean integration. These exchanges were particularly valuable in the context of CARIFESTA XV.
A voice to be amplified in the Caribbean
A measured delegation, but one with meaning and vision. Through art, fashion, the stage and political commitment, Martinique has demonstrated its ability to engage in dialogue with the rest of the Caribbean, to offer a singular voice and to contribute to the creation of a common regional imaginary.
This participation in CARIFESTA XV highlights a fundamental issue: the need to strengthen not only cultural, but also economic, environmental and diplomatic bridges between the territories of the Greater Caribbean. With this in mind, active integration into regional frameworks such as CARICOM is becoming strategic to amplify collaborations, promote the free circulation of artists, goods and ideas, and collectively influence global issues. The future of our region will be built on these cross-fertilizations, on the circulation of ideas, creations, products and visions, as CARIFESTA XV reminded us.
Richès Karayib will continue his mission: to make these voices heard, to document these bridges, and to contribute to the mutual recognition of the peoples of the Greater Caribbean.
One Response
Big Thanks to Richeskarayib for making it possible.
Keep the fire blazing , well done our Caribbean is proud of you.
One People , One Caribbean