Dominica’s creole culture is a fusion of African, European, and even indigenous influences, has been around for centuries in Dominica, and it continues to be an important part of the island’s culture.
The influence of Jazz and Creole can be seen in many aspects of Dominica’s culture, including its music, dance, food, and art. For example, the annual Jazz’ n Creole Festival is a major event in Dominica, and it features a variety of jazz and creole musicians from Dominica and around the world. The festival also features traditional creole food and fashion.
Creole cultural activist, songwriter, singer, performer, and “culture media” service provider Gregory Rabess is one of the artists whose work has been influenced by both of these elements, which are themselves the results of migration movements through the centuries.
Dominica’s culture has definitely been and continues to be influenced by historical migration flows.
This creole culture has helped to make Dominica a unique and vibrant island.
As we celebrate the annual “Jazz Season” in Dominica, the International Organization for Migration (IOM-UN Migration) reminds us that migrants help cities to thrive and become more vibrant, successful centres of economy and life – which aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #17.
If the basic foundation is laid, where migrants have access to pathways for regular migration, and the basic necessities to fulfill their rights and their responsibilities, migrants will be empowered to contribute positively to developing themselves, and their home and host economies.
Rabess, known also to some as “Woshe La” – a name which derives from one of his songs, shares his perspective on creole culture and jazz in the Americas:
Below, he explains the impact of jazz on his own music and creative process:
And another thing Gregory, while you keep stressing about European music mixed in Creole, let me remind you had it not be for Europeans you seem to have some special love for; there would not be a Carib Reservation, in Dominica!
You and your people would not be treated as the British treated your people, including my grandmother’s parents whom originated in the Village of Sineku, I am a Valmond too, though Black and born in Wesley!
Remember the indigenous Carib Indians, and Arawak people owned the Caribbean, until Columbus, that damn liar said he discovered the America’s which includes Dominica; and to the dunce skeptics, before you all bray Dominica is part of The Americas?
The Europeans you love so much killed thousands of Caribs, and Arawak, and in case you don’t know there are remnants of Arawak in the Village of Penville, and that boy Roosevelt village.
Stop talking crap about European where it pertains to any kind of music in Dominica; all you are pushing is false!
Cont:
And finally, be reminded again you do not have a drop of European blood in you, if anything it will be some black blood, as it is in the DNA of every ethnic group of people alive!
Life itself originated in Namibia in Africa; and without contradiction, Black Africans were first in Europe. So, you might think I am condoning what you said, and some my asks if Africans were first in Europe, how come Europeans are white?
Well, it is all because of the scientific term known as “mutation”!
As I commented when this item first appeared on DNO some weeks ago:
I agree that migrants, and especially migrant creative artists, help cities – in our case, small islands – to thrive and become more vibrant.
However, to my mind the Jazz and Creole Festival, throughout all the years of its existence, has done little to promote an appreciation and understanding of the music that those of African and Creole descent have bestowed on the world.
You are trying very hard to associate West Indian Music which derive totally from Africa, I don’t care what yousay where it pertains to Music all came out of some tribe in Africa. and nothing todo with Europe!
Etymology
The English term creole comes from French créole, which is cognate with the Spanish term criollo and Portuguese crioulo, all descending from the verb criar (‘to breed’ or ‘to raise’), all coming from Latin creare (‘to produce, create’). The specific sense of the term was coined in the 16th and 17th century, during the great expansion in European maritime power and trade that led to the establishment of European colonies in other continents.
The terms criollo and crioulo were originally qualifiers used throughout the Spanish and Portuguese colonies to distinguish the members of an ethnic group who were born and raised locally from those who immigrated as adults. They were most commonly applied to nationals of the colonial powe
“They were most commonly applied to nationals of the colonial power, e.g. to distinguish españoles criollos (people born in the colonies from Spanish ancestors) from españoles peninsulares (those born in the Iberian Peninsula, i.e. Spain). However, in Brazil the term was also used to distinguish between negros crioulos (blacks born in Brazil from African slave ancestors) and negros africanos (born in Africa). Over time, the term and its derivatives (Creole, Kréol, Kreyol, Kreyòl, Kriol, Krio, etc.) lost the generic meaning and became the proper name of many distinct ethnic groups that developed locally from immigrant communities. Originally, therefore, the term “creole language” meant the speech of any of those creole peoples.”
Geographic distribution:
As a consequence of colonial European trade patterns, most of the known European-based creole languages arose in coastal areas in the equatorial belt around the world, including the Americas, western Africa, Goa along the west…