On Saturday 9th July 2022, Michele Henderson will bring the spotlight on Dominica’s indigenous musical genre, Kadans-Lypso with a dinner and concert event dubbed Hommage, starring the Grand Bay native, who will perform original numbers as well as favourites by Kadanse greats such as Exile One, Grammacks, Midnight Groovers and Belles Combo.
Henderson, a Goodwill Ambassador for Dominica, who has travelled the world performing in both English and Kwéyòl, says there’s nothing to beat performing Kadans-Lypso at home.
“Kadans music is ours- its home-born and home-grown and I am excited to perform these songs, some of which are older than me and still so loved today. “
“I want to commend Creole Heartbeat for pushing the genre and creating this month of observance and this opportunity to highlight this music and say thank you,” she adds.
Kadans-Lypso month was first observed in July of 2021, to highlight the genre as well as the bands and musicians who created and moulded it over the decades and especially in its heyday- the 1960s and 70s.
Leroy ‘Wadix’ Charles, co-founder of Creole Heartbeat and organiser of Kadans-Lypso Month says he too looks forward to the show and is excited to partner with Henderson on this initiative.
“Michele’s Hommage will be one of the highlights of the second edition of Kadans-Lypso Month. This musical production, dedicated to the greatest Creole genre, will be the appetiser building the momentum to the historic Kadans Tribute Festival taking place July 29th to 31st.”
This is the second time Michele has partnered with Fort Young Hotel to stage such an event. In May 2022, with the absence of Jazz N Creole, she hosted a concert/dinner The Jazz in Me, which was well-attended and met with gushing reviews.
Dinesh Kissoon, General Manager at Fort Young says “Michele’s music brings people together,” so the hotel had no hesitation when the opportunity for partnership arose once again.
Before her Jazz in Me concert, Michele, like many artists affected by COVID-19 pandemic, held virtual performances to connect with fans and to still do what they love best. Her first event was her Xmas Jam Special on December 23rd 2020 followed by Nature Island Love in February 2021. She also partnered with Carlyn XP for the Nature Island Jazz XPerience in June 2021.
Henderson made her big debut at the 1995 staging of the Dominica Festival of Arts (DomFestA) with her song “My Pride.” Since then she has recorded six albums Michele Henderson (2000), Michele Henderson Creole Special Live (2001), Soundcheck (2002), Mwen Aimè’w (2004), Sa Kai (2008) and Home (Chez Moi) (2014). Incidentally her 2004 album has several Kweyol language songs including “Hommage,” which was her interpretation of Exile One’s “Fraiche” and “Chanson D’amou”.
Henderson has performed at major music events in Dominica and the Region and is especially loved in the Francophone world. Some of her hit songs include “The Beat Goes On,” “Home” and “Pas Lessé Mwen.”
Hommage takes place Saturday 9th July 2022 at the Fort Young’s Palisades Restaurant. Buffet dinner starts at 7pm, with the concert starting at 8pm. Tickets cost $170 EC.
Thank you to the show’s sponsors, Fort Young Hotel, Creole Heartbeat, Michele Henderson Muzic, D shipping and Logistics and ASI. For persons interested in becoming sponsors, please email [email protected]
For more information visit www.facebook.com/michelemuzic.
Below is the YouTube link to Michele’s Sweet Dominica (Original Video)
You people and your HYPOCRITICAL SILENCE will be the DEATH of cadence, calypso, the young, the old and everything good that WAS Dominica…. I used to be inspired by young people like Michelle…. now i’m just disgusted everytime I hear their names…
It’s time to pray for Dominica, not sing. Dominica has become a “strange land” how shall we sing our song in it? It’s time to weep and pray for our country! Not sing as though all is well. It’s not well with Dominica. It has been transformed into Babylon and the Chinese are the Babylonians. Skeritt is a Nebbuchadneza.
I love Zouk too
Nice. I like Bouyon but I’ve always like Kadance-lypso more
Well out with the old(great stuff) in with the new. We don’t even see TnT going back to calypso, is only us. Not even king, they have Soca and Monarch now.