SWAWE KWEYOL SENT LISI
Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi, a Good Time To Be Had By Locals And Visitors alike!
Castries, Saint Lucia – Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi is a brand established by the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries in 2013. This is a festival which will be hosted the weekend before Creole Day. It highlights three days of events focusing on Kwéyòl music, Kwéyòl food, dance, arts and craft, Saint Lucian culture and people. One of the main objectives of the festival is to package “all things of Saint Lucian heritage” in a controlled environment, to be marketed and sold for export. Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi forms part of the wider activities for Creole Heritage Month under the umbrella of the Folk Research Centre. The events under the brand Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi include Fete Kwéyòl, Swawé Kwéyòl and
Manjé Kwéyòl.
Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi commenced last year for the first time at the Fond D’Or Nature and Historical Park with the production of Swawé Kweyòl, the flagship event of the festival. Swawé Kwéyòl was a success and met the objective of attracting visitors and Saint Lucians to celebrate the rich Kwéyòl culture and heritage of Saint Lucia.
This year the Ministry has partnered with the private sector and other establishments to host all three (3) events under Swawé Kwéyòl Sent Lisi. The target market for the festival for export includes residents from Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Cayenne and international visitors.
Fête Kwéyòl – Friday October 17th, 2014
This event will take place at The Gaiety on Rodney Bay and will highlight the influence of French music and dance. The featured music will be Kompas as well as other Kwéyòl music. The featured band for the night is ‘Kompa du Sud’ (from Martinique), with the very well- known Kompa DJ of Radio SudEst in Martinique (DJ Ricardo), alongside our very own popular DJ Iwa from Saint Lucia.
Swawé Kwéyòl – Saturday October 18th, 2014
The flagship event of the festival takes place from afternoon into the night at the Fond D’or Nature and Historical Park. The setting will create the perfect ambience for family and friends to gather in a relax mode, to savour the Kwéyòl food, craft and sweet sounds of Kwéyòl music by our local DJ’s, the Eastern Folk Band, Augustin ‘Jab’ Duplessis, Dereck Yard Project (DYP) and 40 years of music from Midnight Groovers of Dominica. The night will culminate with an after lime at the Dennery Seafood Fiesta with the chanting of renditions from theMontego Solo Group and African Roots, while sampling the bounty of the sea.
Mangé Kwéyòl – Sunday October 19th, 2014
This event is focused on the Kwéyòl food of Saint Lucia. Pork is the theme for the meat segment this year and will be prepared in every way imagined. The culinary medley will be prepared from persons across the island who will offer to patrons a true Saint Lucian food experience. The entertainment includes masquerade and drumming, Steel pan, Kwéyòl Calypso, NS Band, Piaye dancers and drummers and System B from Martinique.
The Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries invites the public to come out and support these events which will encourage economic activity and bring enjoyment to all who participate.
