For the second straight year, Dominicans residing in the Connecticut/Massachusetts/New York/New Jersey areas came out in full force to represent the island at The Great Barnum Street Parade in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Over 70 Dominicans, from as far south as Virginia, formed the Dominican contingent and marched along the mile-plus parade route, playing cultural and other originally Dominican musical pieces to the delight of onlookers.
Participants included Dominica’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vince Henderson and other such notables as the reigning Madam Wob Dwiyet USA Shenell Edmonds and Madam of Madams North America Justina Henderson as well as other Madam Wob winners, past participants and future contestants.
Dominica’s Lady of Song, Ophelia Olivaceé-Marie and Gamaliel Moses (son of Ras Mo Moses) joined with members of Dominica Tri-State Area Connection, Dominica Emerald Organization of New Jersey and Dominica Boston Cultural Performers singing, drumming and dancing to original sounds of Dominica including some jing ping music, and others like the famed “Forward We Go” by Daddy Chess, and “Soucouyan” in memory of cadence legend, Jeff Joseph.
The parade is held yearly on the last Sunday of June in Bridgeport, Connecticut as part of the festivities of the Barnum Festival. The Festival was founded in 1948 as a way to build community spirit as well as to honor Bridgeport’s most famous resident, Phineas Taylor Barnum. “P. T. Barnum,” as he is fondly referred to, was a renowned entertainer, businessman and community leader and founded of the world famous, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Dominica’s participation in the event was made possible through the efforts of the members of Dominica Tri-State Area Connection Incorporated (DOTSAC Inc)®, a non-profit group based out of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The group was founded in 2008 with a mission to “educate communities about Dominica; to recognize and assist with the needs of those less fortunate including but not limited to Dominican interests, to promote Dominican culture, heritage and products in the tri-state area and to help foster a co-operative relationship between Dominican communities and their American counterparts.”
It never cease to amaze me how negative dominicans or some ppl posing to be dominicans can be. everything has to be spinned into negativity. my god.
on another note…. Bravooooo to all these beautiful ppl for so proudly presenting our culture in a foreign land where an interest could be sparked by some onlooker to come visit. those of you living at home have no idea how patriotic one becomes when living away from home. those of us living away whether red, white or blue, love and miss dominica. hence never miss an opportunity to speak or loudly boast about our beloved dominica. very few ppl (those who left long ago and throw stone behind their backs) will bad talk da and that is because they have no clue ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE SINCE THE EIGHTIES MUCH LESS FOR NOW UNDER THE LABOUR PARTY GOVERNMENT. Dominica we love you.
Lovely!! Proud Dominicans!!
Who cares who sings the song. At least they are North America and still remembering Dominica, especially when a lot of people don’t know about Dominica. They always think is Dominica Republic. Stop the pettiness. Forward We Go and let it be that.
good thing I never heard of this. 70 dcanz really. stay home if only 70 pPl show up. ain’t no one gonna board a prop plane come down there
I was not aware of this festival/parade. In the future it would be nice if it were advertised sufficiently.
This event was widely advertised this time. All over FB etc. They did all they could to publicize it after they came under heavy criticism last year.
See you at the flag raising.
bravo
bravo
why all Dominica parade people always have a wob or some creole cloths on..what is that for me.
i dont know . doesn’t make sense to me
bcuz dummy its our culture…some of allu dsnt think b4 allu post allu crap stupes
Culture… once a year they have that creole day crap
Culture mean the way of life of people
once a year they having that non sense
bull shit
i dont see Dominicans like tht every day
smfh
And when they are in Dominica they don’t even want to use the creole cloth to make a skirt instead they wearing jeans.
It’s because you down there only use your clothing just at Independence time but we in North America we are proud of our culture and we displace our crafts and we wear our clothing for all to see and love it so be proud that you have such a rich culture .
It would make sense to wear their creole clothes at such an event/parade since it is Dominica’s national wear and directly relates to who they are and the awareness they are trying to raise. Besides, most of the people wearing their national costumes in this instance are from or associated with either the Dominica Boston Cultural Performers or Madam Wob Dwiyet North America (Dominica Emerald Organization New Jersey).
Forward We Go was sung by Daddy Chess
But thats exactly what the article stated!
Lovely Dominica – Lovely Dominicans ………………. CORRECTION: ‘Forward we go’ is by Chester Letang aka Daddy Chess.
I think they have d info correct.d last part was referring to jeff joe
Everybody knows who Daddy Chess is. And thats exactly what the article says.
Correction DNO, “Forward We Go” is by Chester “Daddy Chess” Letang. Thank you. Good vibes my peeps.