Frequently asked questions about bouyon music
Direct answers to the questions everyone asks about bouyon.
What is bouyon music?
Bouyon is a music genre born in Dominica in the late 1980s. It mixes jing ping and cadence-lypso with traditional dances like bele, quadrille and chante mas, mazurka and zouk, all driven by keyboards and fast electronic rhythms. Its name comes from Antillean Creole, where bouyon means a soup: a mix of everything.
Who created bouyon?
Bouyon was created in Dominica by the band WCK (Windward Caribbean Kulture), formed in 1988 in Roseau. Roots, Stems and Branches (RSB) and First Serenade are also among the original groups of the genre. More details on the history of bouyon page.
Where does the word bouyon come from?
In Antillean Creole, bouyon means something like a gumbo soup, a slow-cooked dish typical of the Caribbean. The name illustrates the principle of the genre: a mix of traditional and modern music.
What is the difference between bouyon and soca?
Bouyon was born in Dominica from jing ping and cadence-lypso, with a raw, fast, keyboard-heavy sound. Soca comes from Trinidad and mixes calypso with Indian influences. The two meet in bouyon soca, a fusion popular in Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe and Martinique, but in Dominica bouyon keeps a clear, distinct style.
Why is bouyon called jump up?
In Guadeloupe and Martinique, bouyon is commonly called jump up, because its fast tempo literally makes the crowd jump during fetes and carnivals.
Where can I listen to bouyon in 2026?
The Bouyon Road Mix by Bouyon Shattaz brings together new releases and classics on Spotify and YouTube. On Instagram, @bouyonshattaz publishes news about the genre and sends the playlist by DM to people who comment ROAD MIX.