EDITOR’S NOTE: In the midst of heightening controversy over a Cabinet decision to reject a recommendation from organizers of the World Creole Music Festival to honor Dominican music icon, Gordon Henderson, the following excerpt has submitted by Steinberg Henry.
It is taken from his book, “An Unassuming Love: Black Memory, A Traveloguer & Cricket.”
I had been thinking, inevitably I must say, about Dominica’s African/French neighbors. Then I recalled that the 1987 Exile One song “L’Hivenage” was written to explain, using a rather rhythmic idiom, Dominican hospitality to its neighbors who were forced to flee their home-colonies during the second North Atlantic War.
I didn’t need any further information regarding Ras Shorti I’s Soca evolution appearing in Gordon Henderson’s “Zoukland,” but certainly, I needed to know why our neighbors fled to Dominica and, what was happening to the Vichy Regime in France at the time. What Gordon Henderson responded is remarkable.
“When our French neighbors arrived in droves during World War II, they came because most of all they were hungry and needed food; Although Guadeloupe and Martinique have made great recent strides in agriculture, to this day they have never been able to be self sufficient ‘food wise …’
“History also tells us that when France was occupied by Germany and the French government was relocated by Hitler from Paris to the city of Vichy many considered them to be ‘collaborators’ along with Hitler. In fact the then President Patin was tried and sentenced to the guillotine after the war for treason but was diplomatically pardoned by Charles DeGaulle for obvious reasons relating to national pride and the dubious role that France might have played in the war.
“De Gaulle himself had fled France during the war and sought refuge in England where he organized the French Resistance — a group which greatly assisted the Allies to victory. That French resistance headquartered in England had its antennas in the British colonies and of course, Dominica was strategically located.
Enlightening, is it not? I had a follow-up question which seemed to me too simplistic at the time, but I was glad I asked. Why were they hungry? I realized this would be the final response. Henderson wrote again.
“Why were they hungry? At that time even much more than today, a large percentage of the food was imported from France. Agriculture was limited to sugar cane; an absolute mono-crop society. Bananas for example were introduced in the seventies.
“The people were hungry because there were no cargo ships to provide the islands with food and man cannot live on sugar cane alone…well it’s not recommended!
“The Vichy regime was represented by the governors of Martinique and Guadeloupe who told the people that France was occupied by Germany and they should remain calm until the end of the war. Businesses were closed and shops were empty. Meanwhile the resistance movement was being organized, however, those who were caught were immediately executed.
“It should be noted that some Historians dispel the occupation theory and bluntly accuse the French to be ‘collaborators’…It is therefore logical to flee to Dominica which was a safe haven.”
Logical. What a history lesson from a Musician. The 1987 Road-March and Hit-Song was popularly called “Tchwé yo” meaning ‘Kill Them’ because Dominicans had killed their goats, sheep and pigs to feed fleeing French neighbors.
It was an exceptional expression of a civilized people if we are to use Walter Rodney’s features of a civilization — no stealing, respect for the elderly and great sense of hospitality.
Gordon Henderson was a Teacher once and probably still is — based on the quality of this text.
… This was uncovered when I decided to look at neighboring islands of my country of interest, all growing anthuriums, speaking French and French-Creole predicated on the bosom of Africa, lands loaded with dancing people, once subject to enslavement and entangled in Europe’s history of militarization.
Still, their stories are as vibrant on skins of drums as they are on militant picket-lines!
- Excerpt from Steinberg Henry’s “An Unassuming Love: Black Memory, A Traveloguer & Cricket.” Chapter 5, 2011. amazon.com. [email protected] –.
Where is the new generation of cadence lypso artists com ing out of dominica.who is to be blamed for that drought governments or the pioneers of the music.we see calypso bouyon,reggae artists emerging but no new cadence lypso artists emerging.the state can place all kind of institutions to assist in the development of music ,but it cannot compel any musicians ,what genre of music to perform in.when all this political circus will blow away.Dominicans who are interested in the development of cadence lypso will sit down and discuss the reason as to why this genre of music have stagnated in Dominica.
I love politics I must say. Especially Dominica Politics.
I wonder whether Mr. Henry is laughing out loud as posters are wanting his comments on this issue. I can recall a day when Mr. Henry called a radio station to offer some insights. The man was blasted from here to Kingdom come and almost eaten up alive; even the host was silent or silenced due to shock I would imagined.
So because we are reading something he wrote that we like we want his comments? How many people called the radio station when be was being eaten alive to express support and disdain. Now people are calling him for comments? Why is it? Because we value his input, his views expressed and insights. How soon we forget.
DNO some of your readers may not know what I am referring too, but I am sure you do. Do you have that clip to share with your readers? I cannot help but smile remembering.
To the faceless nameless Gilda Toyboy, read the following: That is a submission from someone who understand fully well that the complete article written by Henry has nothing to do Gordon Henderson; that submission is from someone who can read and analyze what they read that person is not an idiot like you.
“Steinberg, what are your comments of what is being done to our national hero and national icon today, sometimes our so called interlectuals become so philosophical and so interlectually dishonest that they are unable to call things by their rightful names. Stein no comment on the beheading of Gordon even if your article is entitled “Gordon Henderson” what is “padlocking” your brilliant mind that you cannot comment further than salvaging an old unrelated article to the “butchering of a national icon”. please write a new article, an free your mind, and address the matter”
but u sir are an idiot….this is the “editors notice”
Everything is an attack on the government and country. Gordon brought his on himself. The man is behaving like a UWP mouthpiece. We need people who can stand above and apart from the political clownshow. Gordon is now part of the UWP zoo.
So, because Gordon did not allow Skerrit or people like you to use him: he brought the victimization on himself? You people are so sick it is not funny. When we are talking entertainment, festival and the likes, government should no be in that sort of business.
The money they have giving away to entertain their political supporters, could have prevented a major disaster such as we have in Marigot, where the Hospital is now closed because it became infested with termites which eat it to its very core. That hospital has served residence of part of the Carib Reservation, Marigot, Wesley, Woodford Hill, and Calibishe for a little over a hundred years.
Think about that before you talk crap about Henderson now in UWP zoo, you are the one caged in Skerrit’s Zoo, like a damn gorilla surviving on the banana peal Skerrit throws in your face, that is why you are growling for your next hand out! If Gordon stopped a show and ask for his money owed to him, he had every right to do so!
Take your time….what is being to Gordon and other victims of this administration will be done to you….mark my words.
Reading is FUNDAMENTAL!!! this is the Editors note taken from Steins’ documentation of Gordons’ work. The Editorial excerpt is just a further opener to the legacy of Gordon and needs no introduction. This piece of work can stand alone as a “testimony” to how much Gordon documented Dominicas’ history and ensured it would be recorded, by use of his song “L”Hivernage”.. What more should Stein say? is he the Editor? Isn’t the excerpt thought provoking enough for those still in doubt about Gordon, or those claiming he stopped Creole Festival on stage, or took DBS to court etc etc to answer the same question they’re asking of Stein…
In fact none of this part of our history is or was taught in school;. i was listening to the radio about a yar ago when I hard the song “chwey yo”, and it was explaind what the song means. How DA fed the french people in whatever way they were able to. Good part of out history, and there is a lot that is not known as yet. The ones who know the history should tell those of us who do not know. If it was not for that song I would not know that the dominican food and meat were able to sustain the French during that crucial time. Also does anyone know about involvement in ww1 or ww2?.
Steinberg, what are your comments of what is being done to our national hero and national icon today, sometimes our so called interlectuals become so philosophical and so interlectually dishonest that they are unable to call things by their rightful names. Stein no comment on the beheading of Gordon even if your article is entitled “Gordon Henderson” what is “padlocking” your brilliant mind that you cannot comment further than salvaging an old unrelated article to the “butchering of a national icon”. please write a new article, an free your mind, and address the matter
iDNO: I am grateful to you for this reference to Gordon Henderson as quoted in Steinberg Henry’s book. For me it was a learning experience to discover another dimension to this multitalented Dominican whom I previously associated with music, not knowing of his interest in history or his contribution to the country as a teacher.
Your article is one more reason that I am outraged by the news of the Skerrit regime’s decision to victimize this multi talented Dominican who has distinguished himself internationally, something that ought to be a feather in the cap of all Dominicans .
Unfortunately, we are saddled with a regime that views every everything from a partisan political lens and refuses to accept that someone who differs from them politically can also be patriotic and worthy of the respect, even those who are less accomplished than Henderson.
Nation building can be a painstaking exercise and is even more so when a regime is as mean spirited as this one is.
European Tensions | War | Mobilization | Poland – France | Battle of Britain | Dieppe | Battle of the North Atlantic | Training the Empire | The Pacific | Quebec Conference | Hong Kong | Home Front | Italy |Conscription | Normandy | France | Netherlands | Germany
“The Battle of the North Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War and possibly the most decisive of the conflict. It was also a battle in which Canada was not only one of the main combatants but it stretched deep into Canadian territory and impacted the homeland directly.”
I did not read anything in Steinberg thesis pertain to Henderson’s issue, and I wish he was more specific, and give some details regarding the “second war of the North Atlantic, which leaves me to wonder if he is talking about World War II.
This man Francisco is a blistering idiot.
“Gordon Henderson was a Teacher once and probably still is — based on the quality of this text.”(Henry).
You see people who are dumb, stupid and who has absolutely no sense usually attack people who are better educated, more knowledgeable and have a better understanding than those who simply run off their filthy sore mouth: (full of stench like a toilet).
The issue is about Gordon Henderson and the victimization perpetrated on him by Skerrit, he spoke about a childish grudge Skerrit holds against him, in reference to Gordon from all Henry said in regards to the matter is precisely what you read in the quote above. Everything else he wrote has nothing to do with the matter. You are so ignorant you can’t even understand what he nor I wrote.
If is one thing I know how to do very well is read and understand. If you think I am an idiot, I am just like the one who carried you for nine miserable month, and drop you like a rat!
I tell you this government and that Sick PM in Dominica is only going to turn this country into a dictatorship. Its sickening. All you wicked Dominicans who voted them in will feel it very soon that expect. De man on his second child with his wife who is a US citizen carmem. look it
And so? Make explicit your point!
This is poignant and beautiful….in its literature!
Stien,great writing my bro as usual,but i think that it is time we stop basing debate about cadence lypso on Gordon Henderson.i do recognize the remarkable contribution of Gordon,no reward is too big to offer Gordon.i believe this latest debacle is mired in political contraversy .it is unfortunate that Gordon has found himself at the center.
What is the future of cadence lypso,all we can talk about are the icons of the 1970 ties.where are the future cadence artists,except michelle Henderson i dont see any.i believe that Gordon Henderson should organize a Gordon Henderson award to be given to the most promising Dominica cadence lypso artist on a yearly basis.too much talk and politics.
Good points, sir. I live in France and I’m aware of Msr Gordon and his contribution to Antilles music. However, instead of fighting over an award, I agree Msr Gordon should be organizing and funding awards. Msr Gordon should be a statesman instead of playing petty politics on Facebook.