When heads are counted, patrons of this year’s Annual World Creole Music Festival will surpass last year’s audience of 23,000.
Director of Tourism and Chief Executive Officer of Discover Dominica Association (DDA), Colin Piper is the one making that prediction.
Piper is attributing his claim mainly to the turnout on Saturday night, which he said, saw a bumper crowd because of international Dancehall reggae artist Buju Banton and Dominica’s cadence-lypso icon, Gordon Henderson.
“In previous years, Saturday night has always brought in the biggest crowds to the festival and this year was no different. Jamaican artist Buju Banton, as well as Candance singers including Gordon Henderson, attracted the overall draw of patrons to the festival on Saturday night,” he told Dominica News Online.
Meanwhile, Piper said the DDA wants to continue to feature high quality acts in the line up to draw in larger audiences in the future.
“From a productivity standpoint, we want to get better. We want to continue to provide high-quality artists to the festival-goers and in doing so, it attracts more people to the destination; it generates interest in terms of people coming, ” he said.
According to the DDA official, more patrons to Dominica provide more economic activity which benefits stakeholders of both the hospitality and tourism industry.
The DDA, he said, is also pleased that they were able to execute a plan which provided a good experience to all patrons, “trying to just make the experience better for the patron to understand who is coming, all the logistics of what to do when you are here and when you get to the actual site.”
Piper added that more space was created in the main stage and seating area which eased up tension and caused less traffic at the gates.
Additionally, he stated, the government paved the forecourt which allowed persons to have a more comfortable experience.
World creole music festival is indeed a 767 Da thing. To all and sundry in DDA n Dominicans at large, attendance is not all.. You guys must explain all the free tickets n passes that the big shots, those who can afford n of course sponsors n Government officials n their friends get.. all season long. So long you guys oppressing the poor, because they are the ones to pay n spend big money…
You see no wonder, you guys after alll these years can’t make a profit.. You know, the silly take, ohhh it was good, it was tops because of this artist n that artist, but what about profit for Dominica n Dominicans. I don’t care about big crowds, what I wanna know about is profit.. N to the little local business men n women, did they selll to make a profit..? But again the system is so corrupt that they are forced to sell expensive n give Lil bit of drink n food for people big money.. It’s sad…
Goood to know dat crowd was big n stuff but what about profit.
Every year they sing the same…
Funny you can not give the exact number of people at the concert given that you sold entrance tickets. Does it mean that people got in without tickets? Just asking.
It really amazes me how some people don’t know that creole is not only a language but it also means a mix of European and African descent. I would like to think that this is the reason why other artists are included. Creole is not limited to only Dominica hence the title WORLD Creole music festival. It’s creole culture from all over🤦🏾♀️.
Is this Kreyol festival any more and what is the desired outcome? I thin this is just a music festival with where the financial outcome is the marker instead of Kreyol.
This is not unique anymore and it certainly is loosing its potential to promote Dominica in all its forms. There needs to have a debate on what this Kreyol festival means and what its initial intentions were and whether it is sustainable–Maybe we should change the name to the Festival in Dominica during the third week of October or Dominica pre- Colonial Independent day music festival.
WCMF 2019 was well organized. my only recommendation is an increase in washroom facilities.
Despite the verbal success and the increasing numbers attending the festival, Is anyone auditing the finances involved? It just seems to be mind-boggling that every year the organizers return to ask of the country’s government more money to stage this event. Dominicans and your leadership is it not time that we stop flushing the countries limited reserves?
Thanks to the team .the ministry of tourism. The Dfc staff. Marva cudos to you. Mr Piper cudos. Mr tongue cudos. Thank God for lovely weather
Apparently something GOOD GOOD is happening in my DA. Look People! Woohoo, You be the judge jury and executioner on the type of cultural Renaissance that’s taking 🇩🇲 DA by storm. It’s a pleasure to see such a great magnitude of involvement by most
of the people. Yes, we will continue to build our Waitukubuli. Happy birthday 🎉 🇩🇲
Can you imagine if Skerrit had not Abbotted the other baby of the UWP called the international airport? CREOLE FESTIVAL is the baby of UWP conceived after 4.5 years and 20 yrs later it is the only shining light in Dominica. Can you imagine if UWP was in power for 20 yrs? What is Skerrit’s baby or legacy? Well, he buried both Rosie and Puerto, killed the banana industry, got rid of Ross University, killed sports especially
Cricket, destroyed our town and village councils, forced well established banks to close their doorson us, made Dominica the country where wanted criminals come to hide and the list goes on. I challenge any of the defenders to dispute any of the facts I stated.
Well done to the organisers and the attendees.
Piper
You will remember the name WADIX for the rest of your life . He is a real man , one of principle , honesty , integrity and most of all Dignity .He commands respect and should continue to walk tall . You could never walk in his shoes . I hope he keeps to his words and take a back seat for now . His dedication is immeasurable and I trust, UNLIKE YOU, he cannot be bought as a person .
A man is a man , when he takes a stand against what is wrong .
Please advise what exactly you think Mr. Piper did wrong? Mr. Wadix on the other hand allegedly spewed insults at Buju Banton! Professionally if that was the case…….that’s a big no no!
Throwing over …………….. dollars for 1 hr of performance by a non kweyol act surely was not worth it.
This WCMF was designed to among other things, to promote genuine creole culture particularly among. Now its just a regular party promoting genres and cultures that have already established themselves.
Sadly, whilst he got his BIG payout even before he performed, the hard working civil servants have to wait till the season is over before they get a glimpse of their pay.
Thanks to the good leadership and vision of the United Workers Party to give birth to such a wonderful event..Those deceptive satanic MISLEADERS of the DLP are clueless as to how to further elevate the event..
Those Misleaders strength is stealing election, but not this time!!
Skerrit:
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Oh please… some of the persons who started this festival are still alive today … ask them if it was politically motivated or were they doing something for love of country or love of culture. The government of the day should have been supportive of that initiative and they were as they should have been. That is nothing to brag about. talk about grasping at straws.