Seven cultural figures will receive Golden Drum Awards this year.
Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence said last week during the official launch of the 2019 Emancipation Day Celebrations, that the awardees were chosen for their contribution to the development of culture in Dominica.
They are reigning Calypso Monarch, Dennison ‘King Dice’ Joseph, Bouyon Pioneers WCK, Janette Azous Shillingford, Marvlyn Laronde, Joseph Paul, Huguette St. Hillaire and Paul Lewis.
Special Recognition Awardees are Bouyon Boss Asa Bantan, Dominican music producer Krishna “Dada” Lawrence, Davidson Charles, Jefferson Warrington and Mary Fontaine.
Lawrence encourages Dominicans and visitors to participate fully in this year’s Emancipation Day Celebrations by attending the various events.
Meantime, Chief Technical Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, Roland Royer who represented Tourism Minister Senator Robert Tonge, said these awards should give greater encouragement to these individuals and help them play greater roles to further build Dominica.
“It is very important to give people their flowers while they are alive and to show appreciation to those who continue to make a contribution despite the challenges which you may encounter, “Royer said.
The Golden Drum Award is given to individuals, groups or institutions that have made outstanding contributions to the development of art and culture spanning at least twenty years. The Golden Drum is Dominica’s top cultural award. Between three and five awards are issued annually.
The Golden Drum Award was instituted in 1982.
The Special Recognition Award is issued to those who have made special contributions in culture over a period of time generally between ten and twenty years and to those who have achieved notable successes in a particular field of arts and culture.
The award serves as recognition of their efforts and motivates them to continue contributing to the development of culture.
The ceremony is carded for from 8:00pm on August 3rd at the Alliance Francaise.
The general public is invited to all the events organized for this year’s Emancipation Day Celebrations.
Congratulations to all. Well done
Congrats to all the awardees. Special congrats to King Dice. I see a leader in you, a lion, continue to stand up for righteousness.