Bouyon is a musical style from Dominica; it is derived from old island rhythms and uses modern instruments. The word “bouyon” means “soup”, a perfect name for the genre, which is an integration of drums, bass, keyboards, and chant-style vocals. The beat is quick and has a danceable rhythm.
Bouyon began in the late 1970s when Cornell Phillip and his brothers started experimenting with traditional Dominican beats with electric instruments. Their group, WCK (Windward Caribbean Kulture), turned folk rhythms like cadence-lypso and jing-ping into dance music. Albums such as Culture Shock and Forever featured hits like Dance Floor, Conch Shell, and Balance Batty, which made bouyon popular in the Caribbean and beyond.
In later years, Asa Bantan (A.K.A Bouyon Boss, King of Bouyon) helped push the music to new heights. “I was the first one who came out as a solo artist and took it to another level,” he told Billboard. His song Wet Fete linked bouyon with soca, inspiring artists like Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin to use bouyon beats in their own music. Carlyn XP, the Bouyon Queen, added hits like Gimme Dat and Nobody.
Today, bouyon dominates Dominica’s festivals and fetes. In 2025, the island held its first Bouyon Road March, won by Rags from Trilla G, Shelly, and Skinny Fabulous. Cornell Phillip says the music must stay “organic and special to Dominica”.
