Dominica’s culture on display at West Indian Day Carnival in Brooklyn

Section of the parade
Section of the parade

Dominica’s culture was on full display during the West Indian Day Carnival in Brooklyn, New York, on September 3. The presentation was put on by the Know Your Culture Dance Group under the theme, “Dominica: the Nature Island.”

This is the third time the group has represented the island under the leadership of Sabeniah Mingo and Heather Etienne.

Competing against islands like Haiti, Guadeloupe, and Martinique, the band represented the traditional culture of Dominica with sections including Wob Dwiyet, with matadors in full traditional dress, hand woven baskets, and intricately adorned fans.

The Jupe section was a crowd favorite, with women adorned in handmade butterfly headpieces made with beautiful madras.

The presentation also included the souswell souwi or the bat, and mischievous sensay entertained the crowd.

Participants in the Nature Isle section were dressed in a variety of greens and headdresses featuring the Heliconia and Anthurium Lilies, signature flowers of Dominica.

The highlight of the presentation was a the Know Your Culture Jing Ping band along with Storm Riders Sound with De Blade and Darius Moses.

The bands entertained and kept the crowd jumping with sounds of the lapo kabwit.

In the end, Dominica emerged as the largest Creole Culture band, with over 100 members coming out to represent.

Mingo, founder of the Know Your Culture Dance group, was happy that Dominica’s culture was on such full display. “Thank God, Know Your Culture had the opportunity to represent Dominica to over a million people on the Parkway and countless more with all of the news coverage of our section. I hope that in the coming year, Dominicans worldwide will come out to represent our national pride,” she said.

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36 Comments

  1. Proud Canadian/DA
    October 19, 2013

    doesn’t matter what shirt u got on…once u have a flag u representing….
    stop makin a mountain out of a molehill. DA people live everywhere, she’s dressed just fine. No matter what my costume for Caribana u see the brightest DA flags and there’s ALWAYS someone who asks what country it is, even people from New Zealand to Asian countries.
    Get with the times, and celebrate what you have…

  2. Affection8
    September 9, 2013

    Love the costumes. They were not skimpy and almost naked as we see in carnival in Dominica. Keep it up

  3. Dominican
    September 9, 2013

    All you to stupid THe band in the UK had costumes. The costumes will come later. but we may hesitate because all you guys do is critecise nrgatively.
    We have photo’s of Isidore and laselette from Uk should we send them or would the Wob Duywet not be the right colours. we also have Independence photo’s etc I think we should keep our things to ourselves.Please remember is the diaspora’s that coming to DA to attend shows like Creole and Carnival you rarely see DA people in the shows not unless the PM reduce the price to £50
    last but not least Femme bouce sort.

  4. contact
    September 8, 2013

    well done that truly was done in good taste.but it would have been great to see Mr. V. Henderson in the group I quess that is not part of his job. his main purpose is to get his law degree that is his payment for loyalty t o Skerrit Poor Dominica being used.

  5. A sett of chatter
    September 7, 2013

    You all could do much better!! C’mon

  6. Jell-oo
    September 7, 2013

    What’s the significance of all that jhou-jhou?

  7. love
    September 7, 2013

    well she loves both oakland and and d.a.nothing wrong with that

  8. Toomatoe Tomato
    September 6, 2013

    Lovely! That is what we want to see our people doing. Being proud to be a Dominican.

  9. catherine
    September 6, 2013

    I love the green colour it looks beautiful
    God Bless Dominica and its wonderful People

  10. Me
    September 6, 2013

    Lovely…keep it up

  11. KISAA
    September 6, 2013

    i going overseas, thats the only place dominicans are together as one ,,,,,,,PM i need a ticket ,i will vote you if you give me one lol :-? :-? :-?

  12. Wye-wye
    September 6, 2013

    HATS OFF TO THE ORGANISERS!

  13. Wye-wye
    September 6, 2013

    I was just thinking the same thing. A green tee shirt saying I love Oakland, in a Dominican band presenting our culture. Where in Dominica is Oakland? What has it got to do with Dominica’s Culture?

  14. Cyrique
    September 6, 2013

    I am SO PROUD!!! This says it all ‘YOU CAN TAKE THE PEOPLE OUT OF DOMINICA BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE DOMINICA OUT OF THE PEOPLE’
    DNO so sorry about the caps but I had to put it in caps. I’m so chuffed!!

  15. Negro
    September 6, 2013

    That’s the best we have to offer in a strange land.

    • woy
      September 6, 2013

      why didnt u buy a ticket and go and help them make them represent better?

    • say it loud
      September 6, 2013

      No that’s not all, take your nose out your a

  16. Lovely
    September 6, 2013

    Good to go Uncle Didier!! You ALWAYS represent!!! Ya Ya 8) 8) 8) 8)

  17. senjoe
    September 6, 2013

    All you always find something wrong with something. @Doc love you asking where is Vince Henderson if he was there all u would be saying oh he suppose to be doing Dominica duties abroad but he in labor day. people cannot please all you shaitman. and @ do not edit it doesn’t matter what shirt she got on at least she taking part in something pertaining to Dominica. I hope you does represent your country before you start to critic how about u say something good or just don’t say nothing at all. How about the other mas caraders that have nothing on them but a 2 piece swimsuit and they have there country flag in there hand I bet u wont bash them right hmmmmmm. :( :( :( :(

  18. Love
    September 6, 2013

    This is culture, what a marvelous site,
    Sabina George keep up the good work and is any boby in Dominica seeing what you are doing with the Know Your Culture group. Why is no one talking about it. God Bless you and keep on showcasing Dominica culture all over the state.
    the costume on your website is so beautiful.
    You are the NO 1.

  19. I Am Dominica
    September 6, 2013

    I love to see that… not those literally naked people in parade carnival in Dominica. I love the choice of outfits, how made and the way they portray themselves with Dominican pride.. not drunk and slutty behaviour seen in here in Dominica. This is a carnival you can take your children too.. Learn Dominicans back home, and do better than how you use to do.. Too much excessive use of alcohol and children with all kinds of sexual dancing on the streets… and they calling that “having a good carnival”…. smh

  20. September 6, 2013

    it looks very beautiful!i also saw a dominican spoke on channel 7.i vow never to go back to the parsde due to the fact i live in jsersy and it`s a hustle to get that train to go home and have to work the next day ,but it looks like i should have make an exception this year so, may be next year if god`s willing.

    • blessing in disguise
      September 6, 2013

      but I live in new jersey myself and I actually reach new York befor the bus which was taking the group.and after the parade i change and went in another troup and got home in time after 8pm..had enough time for work on tuesday

  21. UDOHREADYET
    September 6, 2013

    whoop whoop!!

  22. love
    September 6, 2013

    is that beryl in the center of the first pic?

  23. Doc. Love
    September 6, 2013

    Where is Vince Henderson, Ian Douglas always makes himself present at Miami Carnival. :lol:

    • Putting it right
      September 6, 2013

      He was at the UN representing!!!

    • New Yorker
      September 6, 2013

      Doc Love, Vince Henderson is studying hard to pass his New York State Bar Exams

  24. "O" STRESS"
    September 6, 2013

    For real we love it so.

  25. Dr.Agathine Scotland
    September 6, 2013

    I live in Miami but I am absolutely very proud of those who represented us so well. The group was colorful, participants were clothed with grace, as we should, loved the head gear!
    Proud of you guys! Never know, I may join you next year!

    • Wow
      September 7, 2013

      Aunty Agat we will be waiting.I will join you next year hopefully. I regret not going to the parkway this year. I was so disappointed last year. My Dominican people looked so beautiful

  26. Do Not edit
    September 6, 2013

    green shirt dominica art piece in hand and shirt saying I love Oakland, oakland california?… so is this Dominica or I love oakland which is it?

    • daughter of the soil
      September 6, 2013

      DO not edit, I was thinking the same thing.

    • September 6, 2013

      Hi, the Oakland shirt was to represent how extensive the Dominican Diaspora is in America. Also, the women in the photograph is a Dominican, who was filming for a documentary on Dominica which is why she is in comfortable production attire(t-shirt and black pants). Thanks for pointing it out though. Its all about Dominican love!

  27. Do Not edit
    September 6, 2013

    very good, i arrived to late to see em.

  28. no name
    September 6, 2013

    I love this, Dominicans in the UK take note, this is how you present a band, not mostly t-shirt

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