As Dominica gears up to host the 25th Edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Valley Constituency, Dr. Irving McIntyre believes the festival has elevated Dominica’s profile as the foremost destination for festival tourism in the region.
He was delivering remarks at the official launch of this year’s launch of the WCMF held at Villa Copthall, recently.
The festival is scheduled for October 24-26 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
“Twenty-five in 25 is truly a milestone edition for this wonderful event, an event that has brought us such pride and elevated our country’s profile as the foremost destination for festival tourism in the region.”
He said the Dominica WCMF has distinguished itself as a music extravaganza, “a cultural powerhouse that blends rhythm, heritage and identity into one electrifying pulsating experience.”
“It is a celebration of who we are, a stage where our music, language and spirit are on display to the world,” Dr. McIntye said.
He stated further that for nearly three decades, the WCMF has brought the world to Dominica, and taken Dominica to the world.
“It has carved out a space on the global calendar for lovers of creole music and culture to gather, to dance and to connect,” he emphasized. “ Those of us who have experienced the festival over the years can speak to its authenticity and importantly, how it has grown into a cultural showcase of the highest caliber.”
Dr. McIntrye continued, “We can all agree that the festival is an ever-evolving, living, breathing [phenomenon].”
Moreover, he indicated that the Roseau Valley is proud to contribute to the experience that makes the WCMF memorable.
These, he said, include, “The warm hospitality of our people, to the cold waters of Titou Gorge and the steaming hot springs that heal festival-weary bodies.”
As Finance Minister, Dr. McIntrye also recognized the role of the WCMF as a significant economic activity for Dominica.
“Each year, the event draws thousands of visitors, uplifting local businesses, from hotels and restaurants to artisans and transportation services,” he noted. “ Each year, the event draws thousands of visitors, the surge in tourism revenue coupled with the multiplying effect across our service sectors, underscores the festival’s indispensable role in our national growth strategy.”
Dr. McIntyre added, “And so, we continue to invest in the marketing of the festival to ensure its continuous growth and sustainable economic returns, reinforcing our commitment to the development of all sectors, including the creative industries.”
The minister commended the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), the Ministry of Tourism and all the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this festival year after year.
“To our artisans, local, regional and international, thank you for keeping the music alive. To our sponsors and partners, thank you for your belief in the power of culture to drive tourism, a national prize,” he stated. “ And to the patrons who return every year, and those who will experience it for the first time in 2025, we cannot wait to welcome you. “
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton said that this year the WCMF is going to be bigger, bolder, and better.
“This is the silver jubilee of the World Creole Music Festival and tonight, I stand before you filled with gratitude, honor and pure excitement because we are going bigger, bolder, and better than ever before,” she stated.
Pemberton-Charles remarked that since the inception of the World Creole Music Festival, “a vision began to take shape, a dream to celebrate our unique Creole identity through the universal language of music and to showcase the authentic sound and talents of our local artists and performers to a worldwide audience.”
She believes that the wave of Bouyon has certainly made its mark and helps redefine Dominica’s festival product.
“We reflect on how this stage elevated local artists, giving them a passport to the global stage and putting Dominica’s music on the international playlist,” Charles-Pemberton noted.
She asserted that the WCMF is no longer just an event, it is a movement, a vibe, an economic engine.
“Every October, Dominica comes alive, flights sell out, guest houses, hotels and Airbnb’s are booked to capacity,” she explained. “ Streets buzz with anticipation from the food vendors to fashion designers, from taxi drivers to makeup artists, from farmers to the supermarkets to DOMLEC. Everyone wins.”
Charles-Pemberton went on to state that the festival multiplies jobs in visibility and opportunity.
“It expands our reach and invites the world to fall in love with Dominica,” she said.
She said in 2020, over 11,000 visitors touched down in Dominica for the festival, pouring millions into the local economy, “and according to the IMF, each stay-over Tourist spends about $3,325 in our economy. So that is an estimated $36.5 million.”
Charles-Pemberton added, “Just imagine what will happen when we welcome 300,000 or 500,000 stay-over visitors to Dominica. That’s not just entertainment, that’s empowerment, that’s real impact.”
In fact, she said every dollar invested by the current government in the World Creole Music Festival is a strategic investment in Dominica’s future.
“Every beat of the drum, every bass line, every dance move on the stage is a heartbeat of our heritage and a statement of who we are as a people and for 2025, we are turning the volume all the way up,” she stated. “Expect a global marketing campaign, major headliners, regional collaborations, and a month-long cultural calendar leading to the World Creole Music Festival.”
Night one- Performances will come from Burning Flames, Gilles, Halibut, Midnight Groovers, Nu Look, Oswald, Romain Virgo, Steel Pulse, and Triple Kay International.
Night two- Popular Jamaican Dancehall Artist Vybz Kartel, Bouyon Boss Asa Bantan, Creator of Cadence-Lypso Gordon Henderson, DJ MJ, Ebony Empress, Faithii, First Serenade, Jixels, Joe Dwet File, Kenny G, KES The Band, Linford John, Little Boy, Ophelia, Pudaz, Quan, Ridge, Rohie, Shanika, SPICE and WCK.
Night three– Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons, Reo, Elisha Benoit, Extasy Band, Ezra D’ Fun Machine, Kassav, Trilla G, Dominica’s Princess of Song Michele Henderson, Nice, Shelly & Signal Band and Tiwa Savage.
I listened to the media whore and the handful of blue lunatics talking about a 10 times calypso king.NOBODY is going to pay big money for the WCMF to listen to Dice.Nobody is going to travel all the way from Sweden to listen to Dice sing bs.People travel to Dominica for carnival for the costumes and street jump-up,not for calypso.Nobody in the world listen to Dominica Calypso’s not even Dominicans,after carnival Dominica Calypso’s are dead.Typical UWP they criticize everything,no wonder they act like crabs in a barrel vilifying and backstabbing each other..One blue jack are said Skerrit and Melissa are the ones selecting the lineup for the WCMF,those blue people are out of humanities reach.
It’s better to close your mouth and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
Stop visiting the liquor stores just before you post. Keep.off the ale.