''Fonnkèr'' is, in

Réunion Creole Réunion Creole, or Reunionese Creole (; ), is a French-based creole languages, French-based creole language spoken on Réunion. It is derived mainly from French language, French and includes terms from Malagasy language, Malagasy, Hindi, Port ...

, a state of mind specific to the people of the French overseas department of

Réunion Réunion (; ; ; known as before 1848) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France. Part of the Mascarene Islands, it is located approximately east of the isl ...

which conveys a deep feeling, a sense of love, happiness, bitterness, emotion, or thought. The term, which comes from the French ''fond du cœur'' ("bottom of one's heart"), is also applied to the modes of expression that allow such a state of mind to be externalized, in particular Réunionnais poetry, to the extent that ''fonnkèr'' can be used synonymously with "poem." ''Fonnkèr'' can be expressed orally (as part of the island's oral traditions) or in writing or song. It follows a natural rhythm rather than more formal meter and rhyme. Artists who have specialized in ''fonnkèr'' include

Danyèl Waro Daniel Hoareau (born 10 May 1955 in Le Tampon (Réunion, France), better known by his stage name Danyèl Waro, is a French musician, singer-songwriter and poet of Maloya. Biography Danyèl Waro is a symbol of the revival of maloya music. Malo ...

, Kréolokoz, , and Ann O'aro.{{Cite web , date=October 2018 , title=Musique et fonnkèr d'Ann O'Aro au Kabardock (artiste soutenue par le dispositif Békali) , url=https://www.tco.re/louest-i-bouz/musique-et-fonnker-dann-oaro-au-kabardock-artiste-soutenue-par-le-dispositif-bekali-21900.html , access-date=2025-03-17 , website=L'Ouest , language=fr These artists are known as ''fonnkézéz'' and ''fonnkézèr''. The form is celebrated at the annual Koktèl Fonnkèr festival.

References

Emotions Poetic forms Literature of Réunion Genres of poetry African music genres