Photo credit: Kendra Alexis
While all the contestants were worthy, Shenell walked away with the crown. She riveted the audience with a skit that portrayed a young Dominican lady in a big US city who goes astray, gets imprisoned and so drives her mother to despair. In jail, Shenell’s character changes her life for the better and earns a college degree. However, upon release, and excited to tell of her new found success, she discovers that her mother is no more; by her actions she had driven her mother to an early grave. Her spirited rendition of the increasing concern about crime on Dominica, and among some in the Diaspora, was a sobering recognition that we need to cherish and maintain our brand as a law abiding and productive people.
The Madame Wob Dwiyet USA show has been held in New Jersey each year, for twelve years, to salute Dominica’s November 3, 1978 independence from Britain. The event has grown in stature and now draws Dominicans all the way from Virginia in the south to Massachusetts in the north, every year. Organized by the Dominica Emerald Organization of New Jersey (DEONJ), and sponsored by Dominican owned companies and individual boosters, the event represented the best of the Dominica cooperative spirit we call “Koudmen” – everyone making a voluntary contribution to community and national development. Aside from the annual Madame Wob Dwiyet USA, the DEONJ has sent medical teams, medical supplies and school equipment to the island as part of its development mission.
There were speeches by Dominica’s Youth, Sports & Culture Minister Justina Charles, MP for Grandbay and widow of deceased Prime Minister Pierre Charles; himself an independence hero and staunch advocate of Dominica’s Creole culture. Dressed in a spectacular Wob Dwiyet, she urged Dominicans to maintain their culture – even though far from home – and congratulated the DEONJ for organizing a fine event. Former St. Joseph MP, now United Nations Ambassador Vince Henderson, in his traditional madras waist coat, and black pants sent greetings from Dominica’s UN Mission and introduced Minister Charles.
At the back of the room, the bar bubbled with the delightful sounds of Dominica’s sweet jing-ping folk music. The bakes sizzled in the frying pan, and plates passed from hand to hand, heaped with mouth watering spiced codfish, fried plantains, fried fish, sweet potatoes and chicken in Creole sauce. Attendees at the show had a choice, of sorrel or ginger beer, alongside regular drinks to remind them of the homeland whose cultural attributes they had come to celebrate. There was former St. Mary’s Academy Cadet Corporal Casimir working the bar, along legendary drummer Baby Boy; inside was Paul Joseph who played trumpet in the Dominica Cadet band, all happy to be selling drinks, food, socializing or whooping with delight as the ladies in their splendid Wob Dwiyet national costumes whirled about on stage.
DEONJ leaders Angie and Bernard Sylvester, among others scurried about making last minute modifications to ensure the event ran smoothly – which it did. Up front, working his several cameras was noted Dominican author Giftus John, whose daughter was a contestant and performed beautifully. Meanwhile the master of ceremonies, B.A.B.A Edwards, dressed in a multiplicity of costumes, spun a weave of old Dominica-centric jokes to entertain the audience. But he spared the crowd the really, really old jokes, such as the one about the famous businessman who, when asked if he had any girls, replied: all my sons are daughters.
Special acts by Madame Wob Dwiyet 2011, Kelly Thomas, who exalted the virtues of Dominica’s culture and its link to longevity; Grammy nominee for Best Reggae Album, Desmond “Dessi” Hyson, and Sabenah Mingo’s dancers enthralled the audience. But as the night came to an end, and the appreciative Diaspora Dominicans and friends of Dominica, made their way home, nothing seemed to have been more rewarding than to witness the spectacle of young children, 6, 7, and 8 years old, sashaying across the stage in their mini Wob Dwiyet costumes. Where such love of country and heritage is nurtured at an early age, our Koudmen culture of sharing the best in cooperative spirit will live on – no matter how far we may be from the green grass of home.
In response to those about MY DAUGHTERS’ shorts – we were not supposed to participate in the parade – it was a parade of the schools, we went to watch the show where we met up with Madam of Madams North America. Raymond Lawrence saw us watching the show and begged them to join the parade. Neither of them were in their Wob.
I do not allow my children to wear poem-poom shorts – these are regular shorts and nothing was hanging out. After reading how I raised my children how I was raised in Dominica should have given you pause to know something had to have happened. We have class, we know how to dress for different occasions so keep your nasty comments to yourself.
I will never sit by and let anyone mal pale’ me or my children.
Jealousy is an ugly thing.
To those who think the judging wasn’t fair – take your issues up with the judges. I can’t comment as I didn’t watch the entire show – but I do know NO ONE carried their WOB as well as MY CHILD did. She spent months rehearsing in that wob, she would never speak ill of anyone which is more I can say for many of you DOMINICANS commenting on this.
The article was very well written, I didn’t even know who wrote it until someone stated in a comment that it was a judge. I do not know any of the judges.
And you must know that the committee members of DEONJ did a fantastic job in not getting involved in any of the contestants – down to assigning dressing rooms just to avoid DOMINICANS having to say they were showing preferential treatment.
These young ladies got along very well every time the met for rehearsal or were just communicating on Facebook, phone conferences, etc. These were very talented and intelligent young ladies. Write something recognizing their efforts and how proud you are of the young generation still interested in OUR CULTURE.
MY CHILD was not the only contestant not born in DOMINICA. I’m sure as hell that she is more old school DOMINICAN than many of you on here and those living in DA. SHE will never be wavered by negativity from others because her entire family has taught her to strive for what she wants as there will always be HATERS HATERS. All you TONGUE TO LONG, accorde Halibut, your tongue need a vacation.
We had a fabulous time in DA, she was all over the place and represented DEONJ and D/cans in the diaspora with class. Her TV & radio interviews was perfection.
Whenever I comment on DNO I never use an alias – I have no problem saying what I have to say as my true self.
I have no reason to respond to those about the judging – everyone is entitled to their opinion. Everyone in the competition knew that is was a 1:6 chance of winning. MY CHILD got the easiest question to answer, the answer was so short, we had practiced adding the part about the gle’ gle’ and pointing to the areas she was referring to. If she had gotten any of the other questions, she would have probably won in the interview section also because SHE was prepared, not memorized, knows her DOMINICAN culture & history and knows how to improv.
Justina & Shenell were very reluctant to walk in the parade. As her chaperone, I was told to walk with their sashes because we were waiting on a call for a radio interview (last minute DOMINICAN style).
When asked to walk in the parade, we waited in the back, they kept coming to get them telling them to walk behind those from DA, at one point we were trying to stay behind the truck but again, they kept moving them up. We told them that they weren’t dressed to be in the parade, they said put the sashes on, it’s OK!
The night before they were both at the Miss Wob Dwiyet show at the Old Mill Cultural Center, that place was mud with gravel over it, under the tents and even backstage where they have to get dressed. I had to put plastic down on the ground so the wob wouldn’t be filthy before they even got out there. The contestants were dressing in that same place – it was terrible, but we worked with what we had – wobs were dirty even before the contestants got on the stage.
We took the wobs to the cleaners first thing Friday morning so that “de laboo”wouldn’t set in – reason why we were in town that early – pick up wasn’t until the following Wednesday. This is not the US, no same day dry cleaning happening.
It was a struggle to get a laundry/cleaners to iron the Wob after traveling with it for same day service, offered to pay double and still no takers. Had to drive all the way to Canefield to a small laundromat where the young lady did an excellent job and even brought it back to town for us at 6pm for the show at 7pm on Thursday.
For those who didn’t notice, I actually stopped and bought her a madras skirt along the way.
I read all of the comments and in miss Edmonds defence she was in town enjoying Dominica and whilst in town was asked to join the parade. The sash was available at the time because it was it securely put away after the show the previous night during the rain in her pocket bag.
If Dominicans were more organized and did not wait until the twelve hour to invite her to make an appearance we would not be having this discussion.
In terms of she of she winning the show she won it because she won for best dress which I believed was 50 pts. She answered her question like she should have. So many times we have been asked questions and never really answer the question asked. So miss petite savanna failed right there. Questions carried sufficient pts also. And that is two reasons why she received runner up.
So my fellow Dominicans before we going running our mouths and criticizing young people who are true Dominicans to the bone whether or not they were born in Dominica my advice is to get your facts straight.
Even Miss Edmond herself knew she did not deserve that title. How can someone who was consistent in every round NOT win? That’s why people will never want to support them cause they do the same thing every year. STOP giving the title to their own personal favorite person. Be fair. I still want to wish her good luck even though it wasn’t a well deserved win. And DNO she did not win the talent round.
Ms Edmonds may have not won the talent round but she won the best dress round and answered her question just as she was supposed too. Hmmmmm the one who won the talent deserved to win the talent round but she F… up on the question round hence her chance to win it and place 1st. Had she just ended with her question instead of trying to create additional responses to her question she would have had a better chance. Like all of us sometimes we dont know when to stop and when to give our tongue a vacation.
instead of encouraging young dominicans were just like to criticize them. smh. that is all you are doing on DNO right now.
Stop hating on Ms Edmonds because she loves her dominican culture and will represent no matter if she is in rags… Dominican to the bone.. at least she keeps the shit real…
My people learn to encourage instead of discourage…
First of all the person who wrote this article was a judge at the show and he should have known better! f
There were six beautiful contestants beautifully dressed and of cause put on a very good show why were their names not mentioned? There was a second runner-up, first runner-up and the Miss wobe so somewhere in this article these young ladies names should have been mentioned!!!!!
The young lady from Petite Savanne Ms. Tameka Tyson gave the crowd a show for their money. Her talent was so entertaining yet so informative it is such a shame that the so called judges could not see that. She carried her Wobe like a true madam (Dominican) and should have gotten the crown. So many people who came to support the other contestants had to voice the level of unfairness of the results of this show.
With all being said Ms. Edmonds went to Dominica to represent the Miss Wobe USA and on Creole Day Parade of Nation Wear, wearing a boom boom shorts? Are you kidding me? Disappointing!!!!
Why didn’t some of the organizers of the Miss Wobe USA ensure that this young lady wore the National wear? Where were they? what were they doing? I lost all respect for the show, the young lady, the organizers and her mother. Just saying…..
In response to those about MY DAUGHTERS shorts – we were not supposed to participate in the parade – it was a parade of the schools, we went to watch the show where we met up with Madam of Madams North America. Raymond Lawrence saw us watching the show and begged them to join the parade. Neither of them were in their Wob.
I do not allow my children to wear poem-poom shorts – these are regular shorts and nothing was hanging out. After reading how I raised my children how I was raised in Dominica should have given you pause to know something had to have happened. We have class, we know how to dress for different occasions so keep your nasty comments to yourself.
I will never sit by and let anyone mal pale’ me or my children.
Jealousy is an ugly thing.
To those who think the judging wasn’t fair – take up your issues with the judges. I can’t comment as I didn’t watch the entire show – but I do know NO ONE carried their WOB as well as MY CHILD did. She spent months rehearsing in that wob, she would never speak ill of anyone which is more I can say for many of you DOMINICANS commenting on this.
The article was very well written, I didn’t even know who wrote it until someone stated in a comment that it was a judge. I do not know any of the judges.
And you must know that the committee members of DEONJ did a fantastic job in not getting involved in any of the contestants – down to assigning dressing rooms just to avoid DOMINICANS having to say they were showing preferential treatment.
These young ladies got along very well every time the met for rehearsal or were just communicating on Facebook, phone conferences, etc. These were very talented and intelligent young ladies. Write something recognizing their efforts and how proud you are of the young generation still interested in OUR CULTURE.
MY CHILD was not the only contestant not born in DOMINICA. I’m sure as hell that she is more old school DOMINICAN than many of you on here and those leaving in DA. SHE will never be wavered by negativity from others because her entire family has taught her to strive for what she wants as there will always be HATERS HATERS. All you TONGUE TO LONG
We had a fabulous time in DA, she was all over the place and represented DEONJ and D/cans in the diaspora with class. Her TV & radio interviews was perfection.
My apologies for the typos.
It’s a bit difficult to re-read what you type in the little box that DNO provides for writing the comments.
1. In response to those about MY DAUGHTERS shorts – (correction) DAUGHTER’S Shorts.
2. Take up your issues with the judges – (correction) Take your issues to the judges
3. those leaving in DA – (correction) living in DA
Whoever wrote this article is so wrong, bad information can be very misleading from start to finish all that info is so wrong get y facts together before u write. Researching is very important when u need to inform the public, please dno remove this from y page. So wrong?
Dominican to the bone.
Correction – the boston cultural group performed.. Not know your culture and the title iis miss Wob dwiiyet usa.
I would like to let the people of Dominica know that Shenell Edmonds was not the people’s choice. There was an amazing young lady from PETITE SAVANNE who should have definitely won the crown. If you look at the photo, part of Shennell’s wob in hanging loose. YES! her wob came undone during the performance yet she got best wob. Miss Petite Savanne gave one of best performances we have seen in a while. Her talent was out of this world. And she worked that wob to the max. Shennell was chosen because of her status in media etc. So it serves them right that she was rolling her boom boom in poom poom shorts for them. The young lady from Petite Savanne who is persuing a career in law was eloquent, well spoken and would have definitely worn an appropriate creole attire and represented well. SERVES them right.
You are 100% correct. I keep asking what did the runner up did wrong. We all know the true winner was the girl from Petite Savanne.
Congratulations!!!young lady you definitely have a bright future. I listened to you on the various radio talking points and you are the real deal. Thou I do not know you but you representing the positivity all loving Dominican crave for. Good luck going forward. We love our country. U.S.A. and all over we will be following your progress and all others like you. God`s speed.
Congratulation Shennell Edmonds you did it for all the other women who tell themselves they cannot pick up and move on, you took the bull by the horn and you a today the Madame Wob Dwiyet USA 2013 queen, we are so proud of you. Enjoy you reign and continue to keep DOMINICA in the sunshine.
Wow! – Splendidly narrated. I almost felt like I was part of the event. Beautiful!
This was beautifully written. i felt present.
I’m so proud of my people! Dominica I love you! I’ll always come back to you, I’ll always come back to you…I am Dominica!
Let me just say that although this article highlighted a lot about the entire evening.. IT HAS FAILED TO SPEAK ABOUT ALL THE CONTESTANTS.. THAT INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE WINNERS TALENTS Was good, However, what about the best talent? What about the other contestants who gave their best???!!! This article fell short of the essence of the show itself.. And one thing which does not relate to the article; WHAT WAS UP WITH THIS YOUNG LADY WEARING A POOM-POOM SHORTS — YESS!!! POOM-POOM SHORTS DURING THE CREOLE DAY PARADE IN TOWN WITH HER SASH??!! … Seriously?!! where was her wob or some decent creole attire?!! I Don’t care who she is or where she came from, however, She should have displayed better respect for creole day attire, That was unacceptable in all forms!!! SMH!
young lady, I believe it was you at the Creole Day Parade of Nation Wear, wearing a boom boom shorts. Disappointing. Just looking around you could have seen that you were surrounded by very young girls and boys full clothed in National wear, you jeans boom boom shorts had no place there, and you should have never been allowed to parade in that much lack of clothing. Someone at your home should and called you out on this or did they say as we sometimes do unfortunately “well is America you come out” so you get to do what ever however, and when is local persons on the ground, their name would be all over. I applaud you for being part of the effort to keep the culture alive, but try not to do it half heartedly and so blatantly uninspiringly.
Dominican forever!!!!