EXCITEMENT BEGINS TO MOUNT IN DOMINICA AS 11TH
EXCITEMENT BEGINS TO MOUNT IN DOMINICA AS 11TH
ANNUAL WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS LAUNCHED
Roseau, Dominica – August 10, 2007………. Excitement is beginning to mount in the Nature Island of Dominica as the country begins the countdown to the leading cultural event on the island -the 11th edition of the World Creole Music Festival from October 26 –28, 2007.
At the Media launching of the Festival at the Fort Young Hotel last Friday, Executive Director of the Dominica Festivals Commission (DFC), Mr. Val Cuffy announced the line-up that includes artistes and performers from Haiti, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, French Africa and Dominica.
The line-up for the three nights of pulsating rhythms will include:
Friday, October 26, 2007- Top Vice, Manu Dibango, Kadans, Bennie Man and Triple K International
Saturday, October 27, 2007- Skah Shah #1, Djunny Claude, Beres Hammond, Shurwayne Winchester and the WCK Band
Sunday, October 28, 2007- Bamboolaz, Michele Henderson, Kassav, Midnight Groovers and Grammacks International
Speaking at the Media Launch, chairman of the DFC, Mr. Sobers Esprit promised patrons, not just the three nights of ‘pulsating rhythms’, from October 26 –28, 2007, but a full calendar of events lasting two weeks.
The World Creole Music Festival falls in the middle of Dominica’s independence celebrations. Activities planned for the two weeks include: Creole Festival Lyme on October 4th and 11th; Who is the Boss, October 20; Heritage Day, Colihaut, October 21; Creole in the Park October 22-25; Traditional Culture Night, October 24th; National Wob Dwiyet Show, October 25; Creole Day, October 26; Creole in the North, October 28th; Cabinet Forum, November 1; Creole in the East, November 2nd; Independence Day Parade and Cultural Gala, November 3rd.
Minister for Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations, Hon. Yvor Nassief revealed that for the first time in its history the festival made a surplus in 2006 after accounting for all sponsorship.
The World Creole Music Festival was born in 1997. It was conceived out of the need to provide a platform for Dominican musicians and musical expressions as well as to expose the island’s culture to a more diversified world audience. It was also meant to build solidarity and collaboration between Dominican artistes, music producers and intellectuals and the Dominica’s Creole speaking neighbours in Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia as well as from Francophone Africa, Louisiana, Haiti, Seychelles and other parts of the world.
The Festival has become one of the signature events in the Caribbean Festival calendar based on sustained visitor arrivals, media coverage and the reputation of the festival among artistes.
In the last 10 years over 250,000 patrons have travelled from the French West Indies, USA, UK, Canada and other parts of the Caribbean to the now undisputed Mecca of Creole music- Dominica, for the annual World Creole Music Festival.
The major sponsors of the WCMF this year are the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and Telecommunications giant, Digicel.
Meanwhile the Dominica Festivals Commission has already started planning for the 12th Annual WCMF in 2008. Organisers are planning a massive event as it will coincide with Reunion Year, when Dominicans will celebrate Dominica’s 30th anniversary of Independence.
As excitement continues to build in anticipation of one of the most sought after events in the Creole speaking Antilles more information can be obtained from www.worldcreolemusicfestival.dm.