DFC highlights team work and early preparation for success of WCMF 2011

The Dominica Festivals Committee sees team work, early preparation and support of key partners as the most important success of this year’s World Creole Music Festival which took place last week-end at the Windsor Park Stadium in Roseau, capitol of the Commonwealth of Dominican.

The October 28-30 event was the 15th edition of the annual music festival and drew large crowds on all three nights of what is seen in the region as the most authentic indigenous music festival. The event drew large numbers especially from the French West Indies, St. Lucia, Antigua and Dominicans returning from the various Diaspora regions, UK and the USA.

According to DFC Events Director, Mrs. Natalie Clarke-Meade, the success of this year’s WCMF is based primarily on early measures, funding and the attention paid to every detail of the product’s planning process.  She underscored the critical support which the DFC received from headline sponsor Digicel, corporate partners, and from several government agencies, as well as the support of the Cabinet of Ministers to see the needs met for this important event.

“Once everyone owned and therefore supported the deliverables for the product, the challenges become secondary. The support which DFC Office received from so many different players and partners this year we tremendously appreciated. Our sponsors and partners bought into what DFC was trying to achieve and willingly committed to support the staging of the festival. Patrons therefore were more comfortable throughout the venue site and area branding gave sponsors more visibility. Also attention to Safety, Health and Venue details caused the event to be better executed.A change in Media management and structure was also key and very instrumental in getting the word out there to the many patrons who turned out on all three nights,” she said.

She continued, “The Marketing team working closely with local, regional and international media got the word out early. On the nights of the festival, the format of the media caused the conducting their business very orderly and took place in an organized fashion. I look forward to viewing the collected information as content is key in an international event of this kind”, Mrs. Meade explained.

The DFC Events Director also suggested that other stakeholders played their part in creating a more attractive and comfortable environment. “We were extremely fortunate for the tremendous support which we received from the Waitukubuli National Trail Project. They provided all the outdoor furniture, the information kiosk; planting material and some branding stage backdrop….we also had more artisans and craft this year than in previous years.”

And according to Clarke-Meade: “we were extremely pleased this year with the quality of all the performances. All the performers gave a good account of themselves, creating real lasting impressions and excitement for all patrons on the Three Nights of Pulsating Rhythms.” She concluded that patrons singled out performance of Ivorian star, Dhobet Gnahore, Third World, Jeff Joseph and the husband and wife paring of Bunji Garlin and Fayanne Lyons for their high value entertainment and professionalism. “I would like to thank everyone for coming from all parts of the world, especially the French islands Guadeloupe and Martinique. Spread the word and see you in October 2012 for Sweet 16…Sweet Creole WCMF.”

The 15th annual Dominica World Creole Music Festival was produced by the Dominica Festivals Committee under the umbrella of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and headline sponsor DIGICEL … the bigger, better, network.