Bare Feet With Mickela Mallozzi

AWESOME.

YEAH.

[HUMMING] I GOT TO PRACTICE.

I GOT TO PRACTICE.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT COMES NEXT.

[HUMMING] ♪ HEY ♪ MALLOZZI: I'M A DANCER, AND I'M A TRAVELER, AND WHEREVER I GO, I EXPERIENCE THE WORLD ONE DANCE AT A TIME.

♪ I'M MICKELA MALLOZZI, AND THIS IS "BARE FEET."

"BARE FEET" IS FUNDED IN PART BY... ♪ ANNOUNCER: ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

[MEN SINGING IN CREOLE] MALLOZZI: WELCOME BACK TO THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS.

I'M HERE IN THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN DURING ITS MOST VIBRANT TIME OF THE YEAR--CARNIVAL SEASON.

THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS ARE AN OVERSEAS REGION OF FRANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN CONSISTING OF 6 ISLANDS-- GRANDE TERRE, THE EASTERN ISLAND; BASSE TERRE, THE WESTERN AND LARGEST ISLAND; AND 4 SMALLER SURROUNDING ISLANDS.

GUADELOUPE BECAME A FRENCH COLONY IN 1635 AND WAS PART OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE UNTIL SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED THERE IN 1848.

IN OUR LAST EPISODE, I DANCED IN THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF BASSE-TERRE FOR THEIR ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THEIR WOMEN MARKET VENDORS-- LES MARCHANDES DE BASSE TERRE, I TRIED THE FAMOUS AND DELICIOUS BOKIT WITH MY LOCAL GUIDE AND NEW FRIEND RUDDY, I FELT THE RHYTHMS AND THE MOVEMENTS THAT ARE THE SOUL OF THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS--GWO-KA, AND I DOVE DEEPER INTO THE ANCESTRAL ROOTS OF THESE ISLANDS WITH THE CULTURAL ACTIVIST GROUP AND MAS BAND MAS KA KLE.

I AM SO EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS CARNIVAL CELEBRATION WITH YOU.

[PEOPLE SINGING] MALLOZZI: OUR FIRST STOP IS BACK TO POINTE-A-PITRE ON THE ISLAND OF GRAND TERRE.

IT'S 7:00 IN THE MORNING, AND I MEET BACK UP WITH KARINE FLEMMING AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MAS BAND MAS KA KLE.

THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE PAJAMA PARADE AS PART OF THE CARNIVAL FESTIVITIES.

MAS KA KLE HAVE CHOSEN THE RAIZET NEIGHBORHOOD, THEIR OWN STOMPING GROUNDS, TO CELEBRATE SO EARLY WITH NEIGHBORS THAT THEY LOVE AND WHO LOVE THEM BACK.

YOU CAN COMPARE THIS TO OTHER TYPICAL CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN CALLED J'OUVERT WHICH LITERALLY MEANS "TO OPEN THE DAY," AND I AM SO HONORED THAT MAS KA KLE ARE TAKING ME IN AS ONE OF THEIR OWN THIS MORNING.

TODAY IS CARNIVAL.

IT'S MARDI GRAS, FAT TUESDAY.

IT'S MARDI GRAS, SO THAT'S THE BIG PARADE LATER ON IN THE STREETS OF BASSE-TERRE AND THE STREETS OF POINTE-A-PITRE, OK, AND THIS MORNING, MOST BANDS ARE GOING INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PLACES WHERE THEY'RE FROM, AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE NEIGHBORS, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, SHARING SOMETHING WITH THEM.

[DRUMS AND CONCHS PLAYING] MALLOZZI: YOU'RE WEARING PAJAMAS.

I'M WEARING MY LITTLE PAJAMA.

HE'S WEARING HIS LITTLE PAJAMA.

NO.

THE MEN ARE SEXIER THAN US THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW?

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: I FOLLOW KARINE'S LEAD, AND WE BEGIN MARCHING AND PLAYING MUSIC TO JOYOUSLY WAKE UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE MARCH WINDS THROUGH THE LITTLE STREETS OF THE RAIZET NEIGHBORHOOD ALL MORNING, SLOWLY WAKING UP EVERYONE WE MEET WITH MUSIC AND SINGING.

[PEOPLE SINGING] [CRACK] MALLOZZI: WE KEEP HEARING THIS WHIPPING SOUND.

THERE'S BOYS IN THE FRONT.

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

FLEMMING: 5 AND 12... WOW.

WITH THOSE BIG WHIPS, GIANT WHIPS.

YOU KNOW?

[CRACK] FLEMMING: THEY WILL WHIP ON THE FLOOR TO OPEN THE GROUND, OK?

ITS VERY SYMBOLIC, ACTUALLY.

IT'S TO OPEN THE GROUND TO FERTILIZE IT..

RIGHT.

BECAUSE AFTER CARNIVAL, WE'RE GOING INTO THE DRY SEASON...

RIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE SEASON WHEN PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, FASTING, AND IT'S ALSO A SEASON WHERE PEOPLE ARE GONNA START PLANTING CERTAIN SEEDS, SO THEY NEED TO FERTILIZE THE GROUND SO EVERYTHING COULD, YOU KNOW, GROW.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION] BAP!

BAP!

WE CAN HEAR YOU.

IT'S VERY GOOD, NICE AND LOUD, FORT, FORT.

HIGH FIVE.

HA HA HA!

FLEMMING: CAN YOU GIVE US A DEMONSTRATION?

YEAH.

HE'S GONNA DEMONSTRATE.

[CRACK] OHH!

WHOO!

[DRUMS AND CONCHS PLAYING] [PEOPLE SINGING] [CRACK] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THIS INCREDIBLE HOSPITALITY IS SO BEAUTIFUL, BOTH FROM KARINE AND THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF MAS KA KLE FOR LETTING ME JOIN RIGHT IN AND FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS, WHO SPENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT COOKING AND ARE NOW FEEDING US.

MALLOZZI: WHAT IS THAT?

FLEMMING: IT'S CALLED BEBELE, AND "BEBELE" MEANS ONE POT HOLDS EVERYTHING.

PIG TAILS, TRIPE, GREEN BANANA.

YEAH.

IN ONE POT ALL TOGETHER.

ALL TOGETHER.

ALL TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

MERCI.

WE'RE IN SOME STRANGER'S HOME.

THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE, DO YOU THINK?

A HUNDRED PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AT LEAST.

THIS MORNING, YES, YES.

YEAH.

THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT 100, 150, I WOULD SAY.

150, SERVING US HOMEMADE SOUP... COFFEE, SOUP.

COFFEE, SANDWICHES.

I GOT TO TRY THIS.

I'M GONNA TRY THIS.

I LOVE TRIPE.

YEAH?

OK.

I LOVE TRIPE.

HA HA HA!

OH, MY GOSH.

IT'S GOOD.

WE LIKE IT.

IT'S VERY GOOD.

MALLOZZI: SMART THING IS, EVERYONE BRINGS THEIR OWN CUPS.

FLEMMING: HA HA HA!

I KNOW, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE SMART THING, AND THEN YOU HOOK IT ON SO EVERY HOUSE YOU STOP AT, YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR CUP.

[DRUMS PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: ONE OF THE ICONIC INSTRUMENTS OF THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS IS THE CHA CHA.

FLEMMING: THIS IS A CALABASH.

IT'S A GREEN FRUIT.

YOU LET IT DRY, AND THEN IT BECOMES BROWN LIKE THAT, AND THEN YOU CAN FILL IT WITH SEEDS.

[CHA CHAS RATTLING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE JOYFUL THAN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MUSIC WITH NEW FRIENDS.

[DRUMS, CHA CHAS, AND CONCHS PLAYING] WHAT AN HONOR IT IS FOR ME TO PLAY THE CHA CHA WITH MEMBERS OF MAS KA KLE.

MERCI BEAUCOUP.

WE'RE AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE!

MALLOZZI: WHOO!

[PEOPLE CHANTING] [MUSIC ENDS] HIGH FIVE.

HEY.

HIGH FIVE.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO PREPARE FOR TONIGHT'S CARNIVAL PARADE.

I'M HERE AT THE HEADQUARTERS FOR WAKA CHIRE BAND, ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN CARNIVAL BANDS IN THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS.

I'M HERE TO SEE WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN PREPARATION FOR TONIGHT'S PARADE, AND, OF COURSE, IT WOULDN'T BE A PROPER "BARE FEET" ADVENTURE WITHOUT JUMPING RIGHT IN MYSELF.

TODAY IS CARNIVAL.

I NEED TO LEARN A ROUTINE BECAUSE I AM JUMPING IN WITH WAKA CHIRE BAND TO DO THE ROUTINE WITH THEM, AND THESE LADIES ARE GONNA TEACH ME THE DANCE RIGHT NOW.

LADIES, ARE WE READY?

READY.

OK. WE'RE GONNA LEARN-- WE'RE GONNA SPEAK THROUGH DANCE.

[HUMMING] ♪ LA-- ♪ [HUMMING CONTINUES] MALLOZZI: ELODIE, YOU ARE TEACHING ME THE DANCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE IT'S VERY FAST.

THE PARADE IS IN ONE HOUR.

YES.

ONE HOUR.

[ALL HUMMING] OK. HOW ABOUT DO IT WITH THE MUSIC?

OH, WITH THE MUSIC.

OK. TWO-MINUTE REHEARSAL.

HA HA HA!

[MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI: BEAUTIFUL CHOREOGRAPHY.

I LOVE IT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN, ESPECIALLY THE MOVES LIKE THIS, LIKE, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?

WOMAN: YES.

AND GWO-KA.

THE MUSIC IN GWO-KA IS "TAK TAK TAK TAK!"

AND YOU MOVE A LOT OF YOUR BODY, TOO.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: GWO-KA IS THE SOUL OF GUADELOUPE, AN ART FORM EMERGED FROM THE 17th-CENTURY SLAVE TRADE ON THE ISLANDS.

THE 7 GWO KA RHYTHMS ARE CLASSIFIED AS AN INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY BY UNESCO, AND EACH GWO-KA RHYTHM CONVEYS A SPECIFIC EMOTION.

CAIRO: TOUMBLACK IS A MOVEMENT IN GWO-KA, AND IN CARNIVAL, WE USE A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN TOUMBLACK.

TOUMBLACK.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

TOUMBLACK IS... ♪ TA TA TA TA ♪ OH.

♪ KLA KLA KLA... ♪ WOW.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: TOUMBLACK IS THE RHYTHM THAT CONVEYS THE EMOTION OF JOY AND HAPPINESS IN GWO-KA.

MALLOZZI: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE DANCES IN THE PARADES?

CAIRO: WE DANCE.

WE SCREAM.

WE ARE HAPPY, AND WE CAN SEE EVERYBODY.

WE ARE A BIG FAMILY.

YEAH.

OK, LITTLE BETTER, LITTLE BETTER.

GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

WE HAD A 5-MINUTE REHEARSAL, NO PRESSURE.

IT'LL WORK.

EVERYBODY'S APPLAUDING.

THEY'RE VERY KIND.

IT ALL DEPENDS WHEN WE GET IN THE PARADE IF I CAN REMEMBER ANY OF THAT.

THEY-- THANK YOU.

[DRUMS AND CONCH PLAYING] MALLOZZI: FOR THIS DANCE, WHAT ARE THE COSTUMES GONNA LOOK LIKE?

CAIRO: WE CHOOSE COSTUME TO SHOW A LOT OF MOVEMENT.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: EVERY YEAR, CARNIVAL BANDS PICK A THEME TO BASE THEIR COSTUMES ON, AND THIS YEAR, WAKA CHIRE BAND DECIDED TO HONOR BOTH THE TRADITIONAL GWO-KA ELEMENTS MIXED WITH MODERN PIECES AND DESIGN.

HANDMADE PAPER-MACHE HATS, WIRED BODY PIECES, AND MORE ALL FIT THE YEAR'S COSTUME THEME, WHICH THE BAND STARTS WORKING ON AS SOON AS THE PRIOR YEAR'S CARNIVAL SEASON ENDS.

EACH PIECE IS CAREFULLY LOADED OUT OF THE WAKA CHIRE BAND HEADQUARTERS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO DOWNTOWN POINTE-A-PITRE FOR TONIGHT'S CARNIVAL PARADE.

HOW LONG IS THE PARADE?

WE DON'T KNOW.

ISLAND TIME, RIGHT?

ISLAND TIME.

YEAH.

HOWEVER LONG IT NEEDS TO TAKE, IT'LL TAKE.

I APPRECIATE IT-- MERCI BEAUCOUPS-- DE RIEN.

DE RIEN.

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL CHOREOGRAPHY.

I LOVE IT IT'S REALLY-- YOU DANCE VERY WELL.

I NEED MORE PRACTICE.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: FINISHING TOUCHES TO FESTIVE MAKE-UP AND FACE PAINT ARE ALL DONE BEFORE WE GET ON THE BUS AND HEAD DOWNTOWN.

MERCI.

WE ARRIVE IN TOWN SURROUNDED BY SO MANY BEAUTIFUL CARNIVAL GROUPS READY TO MARCH, INCLUDING THE TRADITIONAL MAS BANDS.

A MAS MARCH IS LED BY MUSICIANS PLAYING GOAT-SKIN DRUMS, AND THE MARCHERS DRESS IN TRIBAL-INSPIRED GARB THAT UTILIZE ELEMENTS FROM NATURE AND RECYCLED MATERIALS.

[ALL SINGING] [CRACK] [SINGING CONTINUES] SO WAKA CHIRE BAND LET ME JUMP IN VERY LAST MINUTE.

WE'RE PIECING TOGETHER MY COSTUME, WHICH IS REALLY WONDERFUL THAT THEY'RE LETTING ME DO THIS... TO MAKE SURE I'M GOLDEN.

WE GOT IT, SEE?

[ALL SINGING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THIS IS IT.

TODAY IS CARNIVAL, MARDI GRAS, FAT TUESDAY, HOWEVER YOU LIKE TO CALL IT, BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'VE COME FOR HERE IN THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS.

HISTORICALLY, CARNIVAL IS THE DAY BEFORE THE LENTEN SEASON BEGINS, AN EVENING FULL OF FEASTING ON FOOD, INDULGING IN LIBATIONS, AND CELEBRATING BEFORE BEGINNING A TIME OF FASTING AND SACRIFICE IN THE WESTERN CHRISTIAN TRADITION.

[DRUMS PLAYING] ♪ WAKA CHIRE ♪ ♪ WAKA CHIRE ♪ ♪ WAKA CHIRE ♪ MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: IT IS JOYOUS.

THE ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS, AND TO BECOME AN HONORARY MEMBER OF WAKA CHIRE BAND TONIGHT WITH ELODIE AND THE DANCERS IS UNFORGETTABLE FOR ME.

MALLOZZI: THERE IS SO MUCH MUSIC AND ENERGY.

WE JUST CAME FROM AN EMPTY PARKING LOT INTO MADNESS.

THIS IS CARNIVAL IN GUADELOUPE, AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL, ENERGETIC, AND AMAZING.

WHOO!

WHOO!

WHOO!

MALLOZZI: WAIT.

♪ HO!

♪ ♪ HO!

♪ ♪ HO!

♪ ♪ HO!

♪ ♪ HO!

♪ MALLOZZI: ELODIE, THIS IS SO MUCH FUN.

YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL DANCER.

THIS ENERGY COMES OUT OF YOU.

I SEE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE FRONT.

I'M FOLLOWING YOU, AND IT'S LIKE WILDFIRE.

CAIRO: YEAH, AND IN CARNIVAL, I HAVE A TRANSFORMATION...

YES, YES!

TO DANCE WITH THE PUBLIC AND TO SHOW AN ENERGY TO GIVE GOOD VIBES.

YOU DO.

EVERYONE'S FEEDING OFF OF YOUR ENERGY, AND YOU'RE LEADING THE GROUP, AND SHE'S JUST, LIKE, CALLING, AND I COULD JUST SEE HER HIPS GOING AND YOUR ARMS GOING, AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S AMAZING.

WE GOT TO GO BACK.

THEY'RE TELLING US WE GOT TO GO DANCE.

YEAH?

YEAH.

WE RETURN.

MORE-- MORE CARNIVAL.

YEAH.

LET'S GO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ELODIE.

OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.

SHE REALLY DOES.

LOOK AT HER.

SHE'S LIKE, "KA-CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO!"

[DRUMS AND HORNS PLAYING] [SINGING] WHOO HOO!

[ALL SINGING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, BUT WHAT I SOON FIND OUT IS THAT THE CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS HERE IN THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS DON'T END ON FAT TUESDAY LIKE THEY DO ALMOST EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

IT'S THE MAS PARADE ON ASH WEDNESDAY, OR MERCREDI DES CENDRES, THAT REALLY STANDS OUT AS THE MOST UNIQUE PART OF THE CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS HERE IN GUADELOUPE.

I MAKE MY WAY TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE AKIYO MAS BAND, KNOWN IN THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS AS THE MAMAN MAS, OR THE MOTHER MAS BAND.

OUR FRIEND LUIGY SSOSSE INTRODUCES ME TO JEAN-CLAUDE MOUTOUSSAMY, PRESIDENT OF AKIYO.

MALLOZZI: WHERE DOES THE NAME AKIYO COME FROM?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

SSOSSE: WHEN THEY START MARCHING, THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING, "WHO ARE THEY?"

WHICH WOULD BE "AKIYO," "WHO ARE THEY?"

[DRUMS PLAYING] ENTROCHANT.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THESE MAS RHYTHMS THAT AKIYO EVOLVED AND CULTIVATED ARE BASED ON GWO-KA RHYTHMS, AND THEY WERE SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO TRY MYSELF.

COME DO THIS.

TWO SIDES.

YEAH.

AH.

[HUMMING RHYTHM] [HUMMING RHYTHMS] [HUMMING RHYTHM] OH, WAIT.

WHERE'S THE 1?

HOLD ON.

NOW I'VE GOT LOST.

HERE?

YEAH.

OK. SHOW ME MORE.

HA HA HA!

SHALL WE DO MORE?

NOW I'M NERVOUS.

LOT OF PEOPLE IN HERE.

GOING... MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: AKIYO AND OTHER MAS BANDS IDENTIFY AS A "GROUP A PO" WITH "PO" MEANING "SKIN" IN CREOLE, REFERRING TO THE GOAT SKIN THAT IS USED TO MAKE THE MAS BAND DRUM HEADS.

THIS MUSIC IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO CARNIVAL SEASON, AND AKIYO IS AT THE HEART OF IT.

YEAH.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

YEAH.

MALLOZZI: WELL, WE'RE GONNA BE JOINING YOU TONIGHT IN THE ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

MERCI.

OK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: AS THE SUN BEGINS TO SET, THE AKIYO HEADQUARTERS BEGINS TO BUZZ WITH LIFE.

MORE AND MORE MEMBERS BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN PREPARATION FOR THE MERCREDI DES CENDRES MARCH, OR THE ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH, AND I'M READY FOR IT.

[DRUMS PLAYING] [INDISTINCT CONVERSATION] MALLOZZI: WE SAW THERE'S A FIRE WITH SMOKE AND INCENSE, AND IT REMINDS ME WHEN I GO TO CHURCH.

SSOSSE: IT'S A MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT PLANT USED FROM A TRADITIONAL MIXING, OK, THAT THEY BUY FROM LADIES IN THE MARKET, THE OLD WOMEN.

THAT WE SAW, YEAH.

YES.

THEY SOLD THESE KIND OF PLANTS.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE INCENSE GUIDES US.

THE AKIYO DRUMMERS BEGIN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY REAL WARNING, WE START MARCHING.

HERE WE GO.

HERE WE GO.

YOU JUST GOT TO WALK.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: WE FOLLOW THE ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE.

EVERYONE IS DRESSED IN THE TRADITIONAL BLACK-AND-WHITE GARB AS A SIGN OF MOURNING, A STARK CONTRAST TO THE VIBRANT, COLORFUL MARDI GRAS JUST LAST NIGHT.

SSOSSE: AKIYO IS A GROUP WHERE MEMBERS ARE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE OF GUADELOUPE AND ALSO FROM EVERY LEVEL OF THE SOCIETY, BUT EVERYBODY IS EQUAL.

MALLOZZI: MM-HMM.

LAST NIGHT, FOR CARNIVAL, WE WERE IN POINTE-A-PITRE, AND WE SAW THE AKIYO GROUP.

[SINGING] MALLOZZI: FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS HUGE, AND SECOND OF ALL, THERE WAS THIS FORCE AND THIS ENERGY AND THIS MOVEMENT WITH INTENTION.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: AND I CAN FEEL THAT POWER ALL AROUND ME.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MARCH, I AM OVERCOME WITH EMOTION.

MALLOZZI: THERE IS THIS ENERGY HERE.

YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, REALLY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU GOT TO KEEP GOING, OR YOU'LL GET TOTALLY LEFT BACK.

[ALL SINGING] MALLOZZI: I KNOW HE'S SPEAKING IN CREOLE, WHICH IS THE GUADELOUPE LANGUAGE, NOT FRENCH.

IT'S CREOLE.

YEAH.

MALLOZZI: THAT'S HUGE.

YEAH.

THAT'S HUGE.

OK. [DRUMS AND HORNS PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: CARNIVAL IN THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS IS POWERFUL.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND IT IS ALL THEIR OWN.

THESE PAST FEW DAYS OF CELEBRATION, MAKING MUSIC, DANCING, AND, OF COURSE, MARCHING IN THE STREETS HAS GIVEN ME A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF A PART OF THE CARIBBEAN THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

YES, THE GUADELOUPE ISLANDS HAVE BREATHTAKING BEACHES, CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATERS, AND A LUSH, GREEN NATIONAL PARK, BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURE THAT MAKE THIS PLACE LIKE NO OTHER.

MERCI BEAUCOUP, GWADLOUP.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE GUADELOUPIAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHARED WITH ME A PART OF THEM.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME FEEL THE GWO-KA DANCES THAT ARE THE SOUL OF THESE ISLANDS.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DRUM THE RHYTHMS OF THE MAS BANDS THAT ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE MASSES, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME FEEL CONNECTED TO A PLACE IN A WAY THAT I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE.

HAPPY CARNIVAL, AND I'LL SEE YOU ON MY NEXT "BARE FEET" ADVENTURE, WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE ME.

MALLOZZI: YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH US AT TRAVELBAREFEET.COM, WHERE YOU'LL FIND EXTRA BONUS VIDEOS, JOIN OUR "BARE FEET" SERIES CONVERSATIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STAY UPDATED WITH OUR NEWSLETTER.

AROUND...JAH!

YAH!

[MAN SPEAKING CREOLE ON P.A.]

BETTER?

[CRACK] AAH!

HA HA HA!

GOOD, GOOD!

MALLOZZI: "BARE FEET" IS FUNDED IN PART BY... ♪ ANNOUNCER: ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

[CHILD BABBLES]