Dominica welcomes back stars

Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival celebrates 25 years of music, culture, and magic next week.

The World Creole Music Festival, first held in 1997, has grown into one of the Caribbean’s leading cultural events. It celebrates Creole music in all its forms—zouk, bouyon, kompa, reggae, dancehall, soca, afrobeat, and more - while promoting regional unity and artistic innovation.

Over the years, the festival has hosted top regional icons, including Machel Montano, as well as local artists such as Exile One and WCK.  This 25th anniversary promises three memorable nights of bouyon, soca, reggae, dancehall, zouk, and Afrobeat from local and international stars. Superstars such as Sean Paul, Beres Hammond, Wizkid and Burna Boy have also graced their stages. This year the biggest name is Vybz Kartel.

Created not only to showcase Creole culture and music in the Caribbean but also to promote tourism and highlight the natural beauty of the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, it has grown into one of the region’s most popular events.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority have put together a dynamic line-up and commemorative theme for the highly anticipated cultural showcase which runs from 24-26 October at Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau. The festival’s theme is: ‘Global Echoes of the Nature Island: Celebrating 25 Years of Creole Music, Magic, and Memories.’

 “The World Creole Music Festival is a cultural flagship that has elevated Dominica’s visibility and amplified the voices of Creole people everywhere,” said Marva Williams, CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority and Director of Tourism. “As we commemorate 25 years, we are proud to present a line-up that reflects the evolution of our sound, culture and Caribbean identity.”

Night one’s main artists: Burning Flames (Antigua), Midnight Groovers (Dominica), Halibut (Dominica), Nu Look (Haiti/USA), Romain Virgo (Jamaica), TK International (Dominica) and Steel Pulse (UK/Jamaica).

 Night Two: Creole Carnival includes Asa Bantan (Dominica), WCK (Dominica), Kes The Band (Trinidad & Tobago) and The Bouyon Assembly (Dominica) and Vybez Kartel (Jamaica).

Night Three: The Grand Finale sees the likes of Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons (Trinidad & Tobago), Extasy Band (Dominica), Ezra “Da Fun Machine” (St. Lucia) and Kassav (Guadeloupe & Martinique).