Djokan, a creation born on September 03, 2010
There are cultural practices which, over generations and centuries, become established in a society to gradually become part of its tradition. And then there are cultural practices that automatically impose themselves as traditional, as they have naturally integrated into the local cultural landscape.
The Djokan is of this essence.
By its rapid progress in terms of its practice and its notoriety, we forget that this Guyanese martial art is only ten years old and is not the result of the transmission of ancestors, but of pure creation.
Djokan, a hybrid discipline
Designed by Guyanese Yannick Théolade, the DJOKAN is distinguished by:
- Its hybridity: The Djokan is a fusion that has its origins in warrior practices, traditional dances, uses and customs of peoples Amerindians, Bushinengé (black descendants of slaves escaped from the plantations) and the Creoles of French Guiana.
- Its inter-discipline: Starting from the fact that everything is linked and must be linked to give a global and universal meaning; Djokan relies on various disciplines covering the practice of percussion, rhythms and songs, the practice of physical development, well-being and personal development.
- Its hybridity: The Djokan is a fusion that has its origins in warrior practices, traditional dances, uses and customs of peoples Amerindians, Bushinengé (black descendants of slaves escaped from the plantations) and the Creoles of French Guiana.
- Its originality: this fusion of know-how and cultures makes it a new and unique source of identity, specific to French Guiana.
Simultaneously a sport, a culture and a philosophy, that of "Living better together".
Djokano, the music of Djokan
A sacred music
The Djokano represents the sacred rhythms and songs of the Djokan.
It is a mixture of divine vibration (messages of peace, love, hope, opening of consciences) and traditional songs which recalls the genesis and history of Djokan.
The Djokano pays homage:
• to French Guiana, Sacred Land,
• to Djokan, the Amazonian Martial Art,
• to its founding father, the Gran Dôkô Sawani Makan (Yannick Théolade),
• its men and women who have contributed to its development.
The drum as essence
The drum is an integral part of the Djokano.
Vecteur de rythme, de vibration, de stratégie, de transe, d’unité entre le corps et l’esprit, le son du tambour est le battement du cœur du Djokan.
A fusion of Amerindian, Bushinengé and Creole percussion rhythms from French Guiana.
We therefore find in this set of percussions:
• “Sanpula” drums (sacred Kali'na drum),
• “Apinti” (sacred Bushinenge drum)
• and drums hoops.
In 2012, the rhythms "N'Kul" (sacred percussion of Cameroon) were introduced.
The wind instruments, in particular the bamboo flute, then join the basic instruments of percussion to enrich this "Afro-Amazonian game.
Rhythms created specifically for the Djokan according to the practiced discipline
There are warrior rhythms for combat and conditioning work (like Djoumba) and more calm rhythms for work on anchoring, centering , letting go, relaxation and meditation (like Dérédi).
The Djokano amplifies the internal energy of the Djokanka (Djokan practitioners), awakens the “warrior who sleeps in him”.
Some lessons are therefore done on the rhythm of Djokano.
Demonstrations and emulations around the world
In 2012, the Djokan had the privilege of participating in the Martial Arts Festival in Bercy, the world's largest event dedicated to martial arts, to give a demonstration.
The Djokan is part of the FIAMT_International Federation of Traditional Martial Arts and Defense Arts.
The Djokan puts on a show boosted by the Djokano
Increasingly, the Djokan is becoming more democratic and making inroads into the world of entertainment. The music of Djokano, very present, serves as a gateway to the world of Djokan.
Yannick Théolade plays the flute in a clip with Yannick Lebrun, professional dancer from the Alvin Ailey Company and the Tribord sisters, international singers.
He appears with his group in the clip of Valérie Tribord_Briga, Briga.
Thanks to a meeting with the Burkinabe storyteller Gérard Pientega Pingdéwindé known as KPG, Yannick THEOLADE was able to collaborate on the show Supiim and export the Djokan to Burkina Faso at the end of January 2021.
Créé en 2020, Supiim est un spectacle de conte construit sur l’univers métaphorique de la forge. Il a été joué lors de la 3ème édition des Grandes Nuits du Conte à Ouagadougou.
In January 2022, Yannick Théolade is going even further into the artistic world through a musical and theatrical show that combines ancestral and modern sounds.
EMANANCES, the name of this show shown at the Théâtre de l'Encre in Cayenne, is the result of an artist residency between 3 protagonists, including Régine Lapassion, singer emeritus, particularly in gospel, soul and jazz and Endie Théolade, choreographer of contemporary expression.
In EMANANCES, the Gran Dôkô Sawani Makan sings and plays several instruments including the Kora and the Han Pan.
The Djokan, already proclaimed Intangible and Musical Heritage of Guyana
Barely created, the Djokan was recognized on October 31, 2011 as Intangible Heritage of French Guiana by the President of the French Guiana Region at the time, Mr. Rodolphe Alexandre.
In 2014, the Djokano, all the rhythms and songs of the Djokan, received a prize and the distinction of “Guiana Musical Heritage”.
MORE INFORMATION
The website of Djokan
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