An event aimed at exposing and promoting the Creole culture is expected to take place in Dominica as the island observes the 30th anniversary of International Creole Day.
The Creole Symposium and Exposition will run from October 22 to 24 and will be attended by representatives from Seychelles, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Lucia.
At a media launch on Monday afternoon, coordinator of the event, Gregory Rabess, said the objective is to share, reflect and give exposure to the Creole culture industries including individual artists, creators and entrepreneurs while strengthening links and forging networks amongst countries that share the Creole heritage.
“The Creole brand is a very important brand and we have to become aware of the importance of that brand for our tourism product and our cultural industries here in Dominica,” he said. “The specific objective of this event is to share and reflect on experiences and actions in relation to the development and promotion of the creole language and culture and the impact of such actions on creole societies.”
He added that the symposium will also encourage reflection on current opportunities and challenges and aid in developing strategies of cooperation as the way forward.
Rabess pointed out that day one of the symposium will focus on Creole Language, day 2 will focus on cultural industries and day 3 on regional cooperation.
At the press conference it was revealed CORECA Association of Guadeloupe, one of the major overseas partners in the planning of the event, has confirmed the attendance of a delegation of thirty persons which includes Mas Ka Kle, a drumming ensemble and a Kweyol Theatre production.
The symposium will be held at the Arawak House of Culture and the exposition will take place at the Botanic Gardens.
It is expected to form part of the Lime Creole in the Park event.
The symposium will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in partnership with telecommunication giant, LIME.
A cultured human being is one who would detest wrong doings, illegal acts, especially by those in “high Office.” One who would be on the side of Truth at all times.
One who would support the need for true Kweyol development goals.
Instead we are seeing a type of ruling of the majority of Dominicans by a few. Our kweyolness must infuse us to get away from the continued mental slavery and entrenching of dictatorship trends.
Those present trends are counter to our kweyol way of life. Our kweyol way of life is about good moral and ethical values. It is about resisting corruption and bad governance.
I am amazed abiut all these symposium taking place in this country and i ask myself one question. How does all of these promote the creole culture to make it an economic viable tool for those involve, is this just a means of putting money in the pockets of labor party operatives who pretend that they are cultural activist, this has been going on every year
I really think so….are Dominicans stupid or what ….what are the objectives of this …how can one think this can bring innovation to the already existing creole world…The word Creole has already been transformed by other cultures in Guadeloupe and other countries, why are we still attaching the post modern creole or the traditional creole with the contemporary one….We are stuck in the past.
I really think the problematique is weak and not clear..How does this impact on our economy..Sad to say but some people are just holding positions…and are not really creating avenues for the younger people. We need more critical thinkers in this country….too many old heads
Why Jamaica Antigua Trinidad Barbados and Grenada a not invited to the symposium a they part of the creol culture ?
St Vincent too
Creole…means broken french, do any of the above
island speak that..patois?
Creole languages subgroups may include:
French-based creole languages
Arabic-based creole languages
Dutch-based creole languages
English-based creole languages
German-based creole languages
Malay-based creole languages
Ngbandi-based creole languages
Portuguese-based creole languages
Spanish-based creole languages
It isn’t only broken French as you state
Why Jamaica Antigua Trinidad Barbados and Grenada a not invited to symposium a they part of the creol culture ?
Does the group Tambata still exist, and what about the folk singers? In addition to Woch la who fromDominica will participate