Dominica observes Bouyon Day today

Members of The Original Bouyon Pioneers

As the Carnival Season climaxes, Dominica gets ready to celebrate one of its original musical genres – bouyon music.

Bouyon Day is being officially observed today Tuesday, February 21, 2017.

Local radio stations and media outlets are asked to play only Bouyon music on that day and to interview Bouyon artistes. An added feature is the Bouyon Street Jam which takes place in Lagoon from 7 pm to 11 pm on February 21, 2017 featuring Fanatik Band and reigning Bouyon Monarch Carlyn XP, Signal Band and DJ Snow.

In a recent interview, bouyon pioneer Cornell Phillip provided this insight on what bouyon music is.

“When we were growing up there was this cultural movement that was dwindling ….. the members of WCK saw it fit to revitalize the traditional rhythms of Dominica. The way how we attempted to do that is like bringing the acoustic instruments into the electronic age. So in truth and in fact Bouyon music is just the modernization of the traditional rhythms of Dominica.”

He further stated, “In truth and in fact, bouyon music is a direct descendant of jing ping music, lapeau kabwit, bélé, quadrille.”

When asked about the development of Bouyon music since its inception in the 1980’s, Phillip said, “The thing that bothers me is that the music isn’t fully matured, it hasn’t gone global, it hasn’t been accepted as a genre in the world. The fact that we have so many outside influences like the American style music having such a great impact on Bouyon that is a concern to me.”

To address this concern, Phillip proposes building a catalogue of bouyon music, producing original bouyon music with a message that has regional and global appeal. He further noted his appreciation for bands like Triple K and WCK who have introduced a new vibrancy in the Bouyon music.

According to Phillip, the success of Bouyon music will depend on developing a strategy and common goal for its development, and greater collaboration among bouyon artistes.

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19 Comments

  1. mine
    February 22, 2017

    You all are not easy critizing everything, how can a county prosper with these negativity.

    • Me
      February 22, 2017

      First of all we are a country and not a county, although we are smaller than many a county. And you are right, how can we prosper with such a negatively orientated government. Where are the jobs, where is the economic development?

    • The Fate of Mankind
      February 23, 2017

      By doing things properly with class integrity and dignity. We can do better, but we act like we know no better. That is how. We cannot sit idly by and continue to accept rubbish and mediocrity because that is all that is available. NO. We have to start doing better for ourselves and future generations. That is how we expect to prosper.

  2. Jean Belles
    February 21, 2017

    Everybody will not like bouyon because we are all different but it is part of our culture. Some people enjoy it, some dont but to say put it in the bin because its total rubbish is extreme. I’m certain some of the persons saying that listen to rap, dancehall and other genres of music with similar lyrics. It would be great if those popular bouyon bands, come up with better lyrics but what would carnival be without bouyon?? Total rubbish!

    • Dominican
      February 22, 2017

      I disagree and am of the opinion that this so called bouyon music denigrates our carnival and cheapens it. What has jumping up in an old T-shirt behind a truck promoting beer got to to with carnival? Our carnival has been reduced to commercial opportunism with this bouyon.

    • The Fate of Mankind
      February 22, 2017

      yes they have questionable lyrics, but they are masterfully crafted. When you have songs which only ask, “on who they make a line up? for what? for chicken and fries” being played celebrated. A song about an unfortunate indecent involving a young lady. That is nonsense. you cannot use other genres as an excuse for your own nonsense. It is like saying they killing people in America and everywhere else, why we cannot kill people how we want here too? One persons mistakes should not justify your own especially if you know better. Or maybe we dont, i dont know. because i am sure if we knew better, we would do and accept better.

      • anon
        February 23, 2017

        u see asa bantan has a lot of questionable lyrics……alot of his songs arent even being played on the media…he just smart enough to make some good ones about kids and stay in school annd what not ….alot of his songs are about things that happen to people in the country …idk why he calls it bouyon….id call it social commentary …minding ppl business…maypwisant …..marle parlant music not bouyon music….

  3. bouyon fan
    February 21, 2017

    all the members of the wck should be in the picture especially martin dale just love to hear that guy play the guitar

    • The Fate of Mankind
      February 23, 2017

      This is the original wck minus keith the bass player. Martindale came later.

  4. Toto
    February 21, 2017

    And the government sponsoring that with our tax money? If their bouyon was that good they would have long conquered the world and be rich instead of surviving on little money in Dominica. let’s face it guys, your kind of music does not have universal appeal. It is certainly a reason for me not to attend carnival in Roseau if they insist on playing that crap, which has nothing to do with carnival anyway.

  5. quiet
    February 21, 2017

    I wish that some of you and your negative energy would be put in the bin. it’s like you are just looking for attention by discouraging and disagreeing with everything that is posted. You people are whats wrong with this country… SHAME… I PRAY OUR CHILDREN DON’T TURN OUT LIKE YOU!!!

    • Anonymous
      February 21, 2017

      That is what I just did, put your blog in the bin. People are entitled to express themselves, whether you agree with them or not. Thank God we have DNO to let go of our frustration.

  6. February 21, 2017

    This bouyon music should be put in the bin..

    • Tjebe Fort
      February 21, 2017

      Yes Sir, long time they should do that. No wonder it is raining today. that is music for lazy people with no brains garcon.

    • The Fate of Mankind
      February 21, 2017

      That which is produced today. Not the original style> today it is just riddim, much of it not mixed properly. And the vocaslist!! omg where do i begin? it is really hard to understand what the verses are. then they get all excited for the chant, which makes up the majority of the song. this one band calls itself the daybreak specialists. I would think if you start playing at 3 or 4 in the morning you would have a choice but to play til daybreak smh. I remember wck and serenade used to play all throughout until daybreak. now that was entertainment.

    • bouyon fan
      February 21, 2017

      your face to put in the bin

  7. Stoney
    February 21, 2017

    That music is a waste of time….not uplifting in any aspect…it belongs in the Rubbish heap..

    Can never break any barriers, lyrical content isn’t there at all..plus lack musical arrangement

    Bouyou is contributing to the bad behavior of most young people…

    it should be banned period!

    • The Fate of Mankind
      February 22, 2017

      not banned but not celebrated like it is the best thing on earth. As artists, and i believe we are all artists in our own right, we have to do better than that. Our lyrical content reflects on ourselves, it says a lot about our minds and our way of thinking. If all you produce is base low nonsense, nothing uplifting or enjoyable for all to listen to then you are not studying anything difficult. You are not evolving. you are either stagnant or devolving. And stop taking popular rap and rnb songs and poorly mixing it into your unfinished, poorly mixed bouyon riddims, one day you will get a law suit for copyright infringements. So far you have been lucky.

  8. Toto
    February 21, 2017

    Give it a break man, I have enough headache already.

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