Dominica's World Creole Music Festival!

The multi-faceted nature of the Caribbean experience will be on display at the World Creole Music Festival in the Nature Isle on October 29-31 2010.  Visitors and patrons may venture into all the dimensions of the Caribbean experience which includes an edible history of the Nature Isle, various genres of creole music, as well as the ubiquitous fun in the sun and eco-tourism. The Music Festival has the ontological status that the Jamaican Reggae SumFest has for reggae lovers and that the St Lucian Jazz Festival has for lovers of Jazz.   

Visitors to any Caribbean music festival have learned that the trip is never only about the music.  An experience of this nature will also unfold the layers of flamboyant food and fruit flavors of the Nature Isle– aromas of traditional Island cuisine, and other exotic flavors of the island. The musical and gastronomic treats are integrated with a warm, toasty and friendly atmosphere, creating a harmonious marriage of events. The whole package is awe inspired and unforgettable.

Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival has become one of the premier music festivals in the world. Started in 1997, the Festival, which takes place annually during the last weekend in October, gives special focus to those musical genres that have their roots in various forms of musical fusion from the Creole-speaking world, while being inclusive of the Caribbean music forms – reggae, calypso, soca. The Cadence-lypso and Bouyon first given expression in Dominica has gained prominence during the Festival along with Kompas, Zouk, Soukous, and Zydeco (from the US state of Louisiana). The scope of the activities  include Creole in the Park and Zouk on the River to make it a extremely diversified package of activities. 

In addition to showcasing the tremendous local musical talent of groups like Gramacks, Midnight Groovers, WCK, Exile One, Gramacks/New Generation, First Serenade, Triple Kay, the Festival also attracts international acts such as Kassav, Tabou Combo, Ti-Vice, Zouk Machine, Magnum Band, Zin, Taxi Creole, Carimi, Ophelia, Tania St. Valle, Sakis, Franky Vincent Wyclef Jean, Beres Hammond, Shaggy and Morgan Heritage.

The Festival attracts tens of thousands of patrons from across the globe. In the process, Creole music has been promoted as a major musical art form and is slowly capturing the world’s imagination. Since the Festival is held around the country’s independence celebrations, patrons also get an opportunity to witness the richness of the Dominican culture expressed through its traditional dances such as Quadrille, Bellaire, Heel and Toe and Mazouk. Dominica’s exquisite cuisine is also on display allowing the opportunity for visitors and locals to sample Creole dishes par excellence. 

As the World Creole Music Festival moves into its fourteenth year, one cannot help but reflect on its overall positive impact on Dominica’s economy and for the unlimited exposure that it has given to the richness of Dominica’s culture, its people and cuisine.

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