Roseau, Dominica – The Caribbean’s vibrant Creole culture is going global, now that top international television network, Black Entertainment Television (BET) has agreed to shoot the 9th edition of the World Creole Music Festival, on the small island nation of Dominica October 28-30, 2005.
“We think this would be a fantastic relationship for us,” said Dominica’s Director of Tourism, Sharon Pascal of the island’s new partnership with BET. “This partnership will give the destination tremendous visibility, more than we would have been able to do on our own,” an elated Pascal continued. “BET Jazz has millions of viewers … we have seen what it has done for other festivals in the Caribbean so we are expecting to get that same level of exposure for the destination and for this world class musical event.”
Held at Pottersville Savannah in Pottersville on the outskirts of Roseau, the festival has attracted the likes of Creole Music giants Tabou Combo, Carimi, WCK, Aswad, Wailers, Sweet Mickey, Papa Wemba and Sakis. This year’s lineup includes Kassav from France, Patrick St. Eloi of Guadeloupe, Machel Montano and Xtatik from Trinidad and Tobago, Djakout Mizik from Haiti, Monique Seka – the “Afro-Queen of Soukous music”, along with Sizzzla out of Jamaica.
“We are thrilled to expand our production to the nature isle of the Caribbean,” said Cybelle Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with BET Digital Networks, who announced that BET Jazz will shoot a half hour show, with Portia Mogal as the host. “The show will focus on the music festival, and will also capture the sheer beauty of this Caribbean isle – its rivers, waterfalls, spectacular dive sites, exciting adventure activities and the world’s second largest boiling lake.”
“This year’s line up promises to be one that is unrivaled as the Dominica Festivals Commission stages the 9th production of this world-class event,” said Jeffrey Brisbane, Executive Director of the Dominica Festivals Commission, who, too, expressed his excitement about the BET partnership.
“After they see the production here in Dominica, they may be interested in being a partner each year,” predicted Brisbane, who believes the exposure will take the festival to another level, as, among others, it is sure to attract the large Haitian population in North America.
