The 19th annual World Creole Music Festival is bound to be an action-packed explosion of song and dance, as the government has invested over a million dollars to ensure the celebration is a regional highlight of culture and music. The WCMF lineup is hotter than ever and absolutely packed with high-profile names and well-loved entertainers in the genres of zouk, soca, bouyon, cadence, and much more. I mean, just take a look at the names on the list!
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| WCMF 2015 lineup, compliments Dominica Festivals Commission. |
A captivating video shared by the Dominica Festivals' Facebook page shows even more incredible names and some unmistakable hits that can only be more impressive live on stage. Watch the video below and peep the names underneath it!
Featured in the video above are Devine Songz, Kreyol La, Timaya, Chronixx, Triple Kay International, Dédé Saint-Prix, Ophelia Marie, Kathryn Thelamon & George Decimus, Jocelyne Béroard, Jacob Desvarieux, Jean-Philippe Marthély, E.sy Kennenga, Jean-Marc Ferdinand, Pascal Vallot, Frédéric Caracas, Zouk Machine, Luc Léandry, Lady Saw, Swinging Stars & Calypsonians, Asa Bantan, Extasy Band, T Micky, Bouyon Pioneers, Popcaan, Blaxx, Olatunji, Benjai, Fadda Fox.
And at just $120 per night or $325 for a season ticket, this has got to be one of the most highly anticipated musical events in the entire Caribbean. Say 'sak pase' if you plan to be there!
THE BAD
Three of our young men were found safely off the coast of Venezuela after being reported missing last Saturday, August 1, DNO reports. The three fishermen, identified as Nixon Edward, Jerum Telemacque, and Yannick Bruno, were unharmed when discovered adrift in the Caribbean Sea. We say tremendous MERCI BEAUCOUP to the Coast Guard officials from Martinique who assisted in this rescue search.
Last month, Gabriel Laurent and Xavier Antoine of Good Hope were also found safely after three days lost at sea. They had set out from San Sauveur to go fishing on the night of Thursday, July 2 but failed to return. Good Samaritans aboard a French vessel were thankfully able to save them and the men were home by Saturday, July 4. (DNO)
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| San Sauveur fishing boats. |
Furthermore, if you'll recall, these young men are just as fortunate as Lyndell Daway and Tyrone Etienne of Vieille Case, who, in April 2013, repaired their vessel when they encountered engine problems while out at sea. Daway and Etienne thus returned home safely after six days on a fishing expedition gone awry. (Inside Dominca)
I know, reader. This is all good news. Why is it under 'The Bad'? It's because I wanted us to use this opportunity to remember those brothers of ours whom we could NOT rescue or find, those men forever lost but still loved by their families and the rest of us.
Remember Leron Etienne and Justine Carriere, who also were reported missing in April of 2013 but were not as lucky. They realized their vessel was about to sink, so Carriere used his cell phone at about 4am on Sunday to call and ask a friend to get another boat captain to go get them. Two hours passed before the captain was able to go look for them. They were reported missing on Monday morning but searches proved ultimately unsuccessful. (DA Vibes and News.DM)
Less than a year later, in February 2014, two more fishermen went missing on a fishing voyage. Brothers Samuel and Andy Mitchel left shore on February 1 and by Valentine's Day, the Coast Guard was forced to call off the search for the Portsmouth youths. No sign of the men or their boat were ever seen again. (Caribbean News Now!)
And, in case you think this kind of thing only happens to us, check out the documentary 21 Days (uploaded by Guillaume Rico, co-directed by Dale Eliott) about six (6) Saint Lucians who also got stranded at sea on February 15, 1985.
Three of those involved were high school teenage boys who were on board the fishing canoe by chance, and the story is told from the perspective of the sole survivor, Kennedy Phillip, who eventually washed up in Colombia. The movie is a true masterpiece rife with drama, made haunting by Phillip's near-stoic recollection, and ending with heartbreaking tragedy.
THE UGLY
Just kidding. There's nothing ugly about Dominica. At least, nothing that needs to be talked about right now.
Have a great week, everybody.