The organizers of the first-ever Waraka Séwinal Festival are pleased to report that the festival held in Atkinson over the weekend was a huge success.
The main festival concert on December 18, 2010 drew large crowds and saw stunning performances of séwinal music.
In the concert’s opening act, the Atkinson Primary School Choir and Bann Akayo teamed up to perform well-known séwinal songs from Atkinson and the Caribbean. From then on, it was one thrilling performance after another by various groups and individuals, climaxing in a grande finale by Bann Akayo, the well-known séwinal band from Atkinson.
During the concert, Gregory Rabess, public relations manger of the Festival, made a special tribute to the séwinal pioneers of Atkinson (Waraka) in which he traced the history and evolution of séwinal in Atkinson and highlighted the various persons who played a major role in the development of séwinal in that community. Special mention was made of cultural elder Alfred Saxo Laurent and Sam Coolieman Durand, both of whom passed away about three years ago.
Chairman of the Atkinson Village Council, Anton Laville also delivered welcoming remarks and outlined the reasons for the staging of the festival. According to Mr. Laville, these are to promote the séwinal tradition, to enhance Christmas celebrations and to attract more visitors to the community and Dominica as a whole.
Performers at the festival ranged from individual singers and musicians, drumming ensembles, jing ping bands and choirs to dance groups and storytellers. These included Bann Akayo, Petite Savanne Jing Ping Band, Paix Bouche Cultural Group, La Sel Difewans, Ti Bwa, Karifuna Cultural Group, Karina Cultural Group, Hot Pepper Sewinal Band,Chien Zonbi, the Atkinson Primary School Choir and the Atkinson Youth Group. Individual performers were Copee Coipel, Damaz Challenger, Prosper Paris and Sven Baron, a visiting Swede national.
The organizers are very pleased with the diversity and quality of the music and performances. For the first time ever, Dominica’s séwinal music has become the focus of a major festival event
In another keynote festival event, the Atkinson Primary School Talent Search competition held on December 17, 2010, Aldon Gage emerged the winner after beating off four rivals. Alisha Joseph and Annisha Caby came in second and third places, respectively. His winning songs were ‘Sana Clause is Coming to Town’ and ‘Just Lose It’.
The festival organizers, the Atkinson Village Council and the Séwinal Festival Committee records its thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of festival including corporate sponsors LIME, the Marigot Credit Union and Eezzee Pharmacy, the Government of Dominica, the Cultural Division, the Department of Local Government and Community Development, Ministry of Carib Affairs, Discover Dominica Authority and the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The organizers are already looking forward to hosting the second edition of the festival in December 2011.
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well done this was just one of the best familly setting events of the year. the event was very entertaining and peacefull . harts off to the people of atkinson keep it up.
Atkinson is the Sewenal capital of Dominica. If one wants to experience real Christmas, the original Christmas, where vien pafimeh is prepared and villagers celebrate by going house to house drinking and eating; Then Atkinson is the place for you.
I was there. And it was great.
Congrats to Gregory Rabbess, Kitchena Laville, Ban AKa yo and the rest.
well done, sorry i missed it –good for the community and traditional xmas celebration,,,,it really has become mtoo commercialised now
Congratulations to the Atkinson Village Council and the Sewinal Festival Committee for putting on a good show. The other councils around the island can take a leaf in this initiative.