soka

8.6

Fast, happy Caribbean dance music with African and island rhythms

noun
/ˈsoʊkə/

: soca

The vibrant rhythms of soka make everyone want to dance at the festival.
soka and Haitian
soka and chutney
soka music

Examples

According to Cybert Waterman, Bocatoreneans encountered soka and Haitian music because of their transnational connections.

Academic text (2006)
I mixed the merengue with a soka; they moved a bit more.

Academic text (2006)
Some of the soka and Haitian songs that Bocatoreneans dance to are at least 18 to 20 years old.

Academic text (2006)
The most popular soka groups in Bocas are Arrow Sparrow and The Soka Boys.

Academic text (2006)
"The highlights of every dancing evening are the sets (tanda) of soka and Haitian music.

Academic text (2006)
According to the deejays, the preferred musical styles for Bocatoreneans to dance are soka, Haitian music, salsa, merengue, and other types of 'tropical' music.

Academic text (2006)
Many young people in the Caribbean enjoy dancing to soka music during celebrations.
During the carnival, the streets are filled with lively soka music that gets everyone moving.

Surface Forms

soka singular

sokas plural

Morphology

soka = soul + calypso (semi-transparent) = soul + calypso

Formally a blend of 'soul' + 'calypso' which signals a musical fusion, but many learners may not know 'calypso' so the meaning is not fully obvious.

Etymology

The word soka comes from the phrase 'soul of calypso', made to show it mixes soul music with calypso rhythms, so it is lively Caribbean dance music that makes people move.