Kweyol Heritage Month is celebrated in Saint Lucia every October, culminating in the grand celebration of Jounen Kweyol during the last weekend of the month.
This week the Minister for Tourism, Investment, Culture, Creative Industry and Information Dr. Ernest Hilaire, shared his thoughts on the celebrations this year.
Asked whether he thought this year’s activity would be bigger than last year, the Minister was reluctant to affirm.
“I do not know if it will be bigger than last year,” Hilaire replied.
“We have had so much for the year, if you just reflect on the year that we have had in Saint Lucia in terms of some of the achievements, from jazz, carnival, Julien Alfred, Cricket and more cricket with CPL and don’t ask if the kings win the CPL,” he went on to say.
Dr. Hilaire said that there may be the possibility of another motorcade if the Saint Lucia Kings wins the CPL finals on Sunday, having qualified on Wednesday.
He also highlighted successful celebrations of Emancipation in August as well as the La Rose Festival.
“We are now preparing for Kweyol Heritage Month and of course La Marguerite celebrations. So I cannot tell you much more than to tell you I am just looking forward to enjoying the month. It is probably the month when I put on the most weight and I am looking forward to it,” Hilaire stated.
The minister disclosed however that he has been in discussion with the Folk Research Centre, the principal agency for Kweyol Heritage Month about redesigning the occasion to make the whole of Saint Lucia the space for the event.
“This is already happening to some extent outside of the formal structure. But the intention is to realize a non-stop celebration throughout the island,’ he said.
Dr. Hilaire’s vision is for every community to stage an aspect of our culture for which that community may be well known during the month, as opposed to each community trying to do everything.
“So we can try that instead of just three or four communities with each community presenting what they are best known for in terms of their history and their culture,” he further explained.
According to Hilaire, Kweyol fashion is something he would very much like to see more of during the month of October.
“I would like to see an emphasis on fashion and people wearing the creole wear, whether it is the madras or African wear, because it is really about our creolness and that mixing and coming together of cultures. So, if we can put more emphasis on fashion and clothing, wear these for the entire month or at least every Friday in October, this would definitely make a major statement,” Hilaire said.
FILE PHOTO: Dr. Ernest Hilaire taking questions from a group of news reporters.
Sounds like Hilaire is more focused on the aesthetic than authenticity. An emphasis on Fashion yet not one mention of the beautiful language (which they sent Kenson to apologize for unnecessarily so because many are still ashamed of our mother tongue).
Mr Hilaire, I must say, I am very pleased with the way the government is placing a.lot of emphasis on activities for the citizens to enjoy. It seems there are major
activities every month combined with the success of Miss Alfred and the CPL tournament, there has been lots of entertainment for all. The government is doing a sterling job and I tip my hat to the government.
You are correct to suggest seeing more national dress wear during Kwéyol heritage month. It was something I always wished happened. Our national dress wear is so elegant and beautiful to see the ladies wear the sophisticated designs and the men in their usual display of satorial excellence. I suggest that during Kwéyol heritage month that a day or two be given to have a fashion display when everyone can come together and display their satorial sense in our nation’s dress wear. If you want the national wear to have more prominence, then that’s the way to do it. I once read a historical account where Castries on a given day or weekend was flooded with men and women dressed in the national wear, women with parasols wearing black or white gloves – some elbow length, men being gentlemanly and society just being civil. An occasion that should be brought back.
On another note, I recently read in a editorial that during this month’s Kwéyol heritage celebrations that river washing was going to be part of the traditional activities. While I will always support Kwéyol heritage celebrations, there are some things that needs to be taken into consideration with certain activities such as river washing. First is that river washing though being traditional has proven to be unhealthy for the river ecosystem because fibres from clothes ends up in the water system, which ends up in the digestive tract of the river creatures which inevitably ends up on our plates and in our digestive system. This is dangerous. And if soap or detergent is used, this is even more problematic. I suggest river washing be stopped in consideration of our environment, health of the citizens and the delicate water systems that are under immense pressures due to climate change. River washing was part of daily life back in a time when few had pipe water and the river was the bathroom, the launderette and the source of drinking water. People did not have a choice and did not know better then but we know better and have a choice now – well at least the vast majority of us do. Again, while I will always support our traditions, we must be conscious of the entire whole of our being in connection with the environment. And if traditions are a threat to the health of people and environment, then I think we should reconsider or modify the traditional practice in the interest of preserving the environment and by extension ourselves.
Happy Kwéyol Heritage Month.
I live in USA,and celebrate by preparing creole meal and drinks, dress the table and napkins in madrass plaid with a crayol dressed doll as a centerpiece,and including a photo backdrop for picture taking of family in madrass plaid fashion. So beautiful!
If is one thing, the SLP government is extremely good at throwing social/ entertainment events. That is quite impressive..from jazz, to carnival to juju homecoming so I expect the jounen kweyol to follow suite. The Uwp government on the other hand did an absurd job and criminal attempt to rebrand jazz with the Soleil Music Festival under Fortuna Belrose….that’s what you call abortion…killing a nicely growing baby! Let’s not forget when politicians fail miserably. Now hope Hilaire can copy the successes with fetes and apply to Healthcare or crime or road safety which are way more important.
Festival after festival, fete after fete, celebration after celebration.. just keep the party going to take minds off the realities of day-to-day living. Por Jab Sainte Lucie!
Minister of Bacchanal. Forget your worries and party!
Thank you @James Bank
Fete after fete while we still don’t have basic medications at our two major hospitals and various wellness centers. Are we saint lucians blind to the red coolaid we are been fed.
Dr of carnival studies. what a ting. Fete and more fete minus sound policies for elevating and moving the country forward.
Looks like only 2 persons make up the government of st lucia. Philip and Ernest.