Culture & Heritage | a virtual Dominica

Dominica’s 2022 Independence Season

avirtualDominica — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 17:11:27 +0000

Check out the Calendar of Events for Dominica’s Independence and Creole Season

Show your National Pride during Independence Season – Wear your National Wear & Wave your Flag!

Learn more about Dominica’s Independence, Culture here

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Art, Jazz & Courtney Pine

delphis — Tue, 09 May 2017 17:26:42 +0000

Art, music and tradition are showcased throughout the year in Dominica, but during the months of May and June, it’s a time for everyone to immerse themselves in this scene! You can find an array of events involving theatrical and dance performances, concerts, art workshops, gallery shows, poetry readings and more.

DOMFESTA, an annual event running from May 3rd to May 31st 2017, has just begun. It’s festivities will run right up to another annual event – Jazz ‘n Creole.

A wonderful way to acknowledge the sweet sounds of this genre of music, Jazz Fringe Events kick off the festival by spreading the experience in several locations around Dominica. This year we have the renowned Courtney Pine as the Headliner for Jazz ‘n Creole Main Stage event on June 4th. Active since the 1980’s, he established his name as a jazz saxophonist, however he is a multi-instrumentalist.

Listen to one his tunes HERE!
Get more details for DOMFESTA and Jazz n’ Creole. See you there!

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Dominica’s Opening Carnival Parade 2017

delphis — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 23:30:49 +0000

Dominica’s Opening Parade for Carnival 2017 today was filled with energy!

Many bands participated in this warm-up to Mas Domnik 2017. Everyone – participants and bystanders alike – enjoyed the festive experience of traditional ‘old time’ characters like Sensay and Ban Mouve, along with the unique sounds of the Lapeau Kabwit. Modern costumes were also on display, promising a fun and vibrant Jump Up to the HiFi sounds in just a couple of weeks.

Below are a few snaps of what to expect for the upcoming Carnival on February 27th & 28th.

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Share some Dominica Heritage this Holiday Season.

delphis — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:16:37 +0000

~ Folk Tales from Dominica ~ Two FANTASTIC New Books!

Before the electronic age, do you remember gathering under the breadfruit tree at night, listening to Granny tell tales about the soukouyan and lougawou?

Roy Sanford and Jeno Jacob sure do… and they want to share these stories with you!

The traditional Dominica Folk Tales taught life lessons, gave moral guidance, and explained mysterious circumstances like creaks in the roof and the glow of fire flies in the distance.

Two local authors have recently released their interpretations of these delightful (and sometimes fear-inspiring) tales. So share some Dominica Tradition this holiday season and read a story or two when you’re gathered around the table for Christmas Dinner.

The books are available at local bookstores, online on Visit-Dominica.com and at the Roseau Market this Saturday (December 17th, 2016). Enjoy!

Three Nights Later, The Soukouyan on the Roof and Other Stories

by Roy Sanford

EC $50 (US $18) includes shipping to the Caribbean, US, UK, Canada.
Buy the Book (Paperback)

How the Agouti Lost His Tail

by Jeno J. Jacob

EC $40 (US $14) includes shipping to the Caribbean, US, UK, Canada.
Buy the Book (Paperback)

Stop by the Waitukubuli Writes Christmas Book Sale at the market this Saturday, December 17th to buy these books and see a whole lot more.

Want more?

See more products from Dominica that are available for online purchase at Visit-Dominica.com

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Dominica’s Chapo Pay ~ A New National Symbol?

delphis — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:01:57 +0000

During Independence and Creole Season you’ll often spot both women and men walking through Roseau wearing beautiful “chapo pay” (straw hats). These hats are not only practical in that they give much-needed shade from the tropical sun, but they support the local economy too!

Hand-crafted Chapo Pay are common in Dominica, where we have many talented craftsmen and craftswomen who continue to practice the skills they were taught by their grandparents.

One such talented woman is Ms. Jistine Fontaine, sister to the late Prime Minister Hon. Pierre Charles.

Jistine creates these beautiful hats herself. She makes the straw from screw-pine before weaving the hats into various designs and adding the creole touches, madras clothe and a flower or two.

Do you have your Chapo Pay for the 2016 Independence Season?

If not, feel free to visit Jistine. She is located at the corner of Independence and Hillsborough Streets. Once Cruise Season starts, you can find her on the Bayfront at Booth #2.

Her hats are reasonably priced and beautifully crafted in both men’s and women’s styles!

The Process

Making the ‘straw’ from screw-pine is not an easy task!

Watch this fantastic video from the Cultural Division that shows how screw pine is processed and then made into different products. The mini documentary is less than 5 minutes.

For more information about Traditional Dress in Dominica visit avirtualDominica.com

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National Emblems Week: Dominica’s Traditional Dress

delphis — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 16:10:11 +0000

Traditional Dress in Dominica

October is one of the best months to visit Dominica, because our culture is on display everywhere. Throughout the month, Fridays are designated as “Creole Dress” Day (Had Kwéyòl). On the Fridays leading up to Creole Day (the last Friday of the month), we add an accent of creole to our clothing or wear colourful madras skirts, tops and dresses. Many people create new fashions with madras patterns, all paying tribute to our Creole heritage. On Creole Day, traditional creole clothing like the Wob Dwiyet is on full display everywhere you go — and especially during the Creole Day Parade in Roseau.

Creole Day Parade in Roseau

Dominica’s National Wear

Dominica’s traditional National Wear includes a Wob Dwiyet for women and black pants, white shirt and red sash for men.

The Wob Dwiyet is a national symbol of Dominica. You can see it in all its glory during the Miss Wob Dwiyet Competition held every year during Independence.

Men also wear brightly coloured madras shirt jacks, waistcoats, or sashes when celebrating the Creole Season.

DID YOU KNOW?

The traditional Wob Dwiyet (“Grand Robe”) consists of mouchoir, foulard, jupe, chemise, and “jupon a dantell” complete with gold jewellery on arms, neck, ears and mouchoir.

Drawing and information from Dr. Lennox Honyhchurch – read more at www.LennoxHonychurch.com

FÈT ANDÉPANDANS 2016 in Dominica

See Creole Wear on display at the many Creole pageants throughout our Independence Celebrations:

Ti Matador Creole Pageant – Thurs. Oct. 20th, 8pm at Arawak House of Culture
Madame Wob Dwiyet Pageant – Sat. Oct. 22nd, 4pm at Arawak House of Culture
Miss Wob Dwiyet Pageant – Thurs. Oct. 27th, 8pm at Old Mill Cultural Centre
Creole Dress Parade – Fri. Oct. 28th, 10 am in the Streets of Roseau

For a more detailed description of tradition Creole dress, see avirtualDominica.com which

See all the post about our National Symbols here.

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National Emblems Week: Coat of Arms

delphis — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:45:34 +0000

Dominica’s National Emblems: Coat of Arms

According to Dr. Lennox Honychurch, Dominica’s Coat of Arms was designed in 1960 by three people:

First Chief Minister of Dominica Franklin A. Baron
British Administrator of Dominica, Colonel Alec Lovelace
Eleanor Lovelace, wife of Colonel Alec Lovelace

In 1961, the Coat of Arms was registered at the College of Arms in London. The Coat of Arms is to be displayed as follows:

“on Seals, Shields, Banners, Flags or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms”.

The shield is divided into 4 parts and shows:

volcanic soil and a coconut tree
the crapaud – (now an endangered species)
a kalinago canoe with sails
and a banana tree with mature fruit

The Motto is Apres Bondie C’est La Ter and it means “after God, the earth” which shows the significance of soil and agriculture in Dominica.

Read more about the Coat of Arms at www.Lennox Honychurch.com

For more information about Dominica’s National Symbols and Independence Celebrations, see avirtualDominica.com

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National Emblems Week: The Sisserou Parrot, Dominica’s National Bird

delphis — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:35:22 +0000

The National Bird of Dominica – The Sisserou Parrot

The Sisserou, Amazona imperialis, is Dominica’s national bird and the larger of the two endemic parrots in Dominica.Sisserou Parrot

These precious birds are found nowhere else in the world and are found only in the higher elevation rainforests around the Morne Diablotins and Morne Trois Pitons National Park here in Dominica.

Appearance: Males and females are almost identical in appearance, coloured with greens, purples, black and orange. Males tend to weight about 900g (32 oz) and females about 650 g (23 oz), and they average 20 inches in length.

Diet: These birds eat a variety of fruit, nuts and other local vegetation such as bromeliads and wild anthurium.

Character: Sisserou parrots are shy and generally travel solo or in pairs or trios. They live to about 70 years old.

Cultural Importance

The Sisserou is featured on

Dominica’s Flag
The Coat of Arms
The Parliamentary Mace

DID YOU KNOW?

Sisserou Parrots mate for life! Once the Sisserou finds a partner, it remains with it until its death.

Read more about the Sisserou Parrot and other birds of Dominica on avirtualDominica.com

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National Emblems Week: Dominica’s National Anthem

delphis — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 17:52:28 +0000

The National Anthem of Dominica

Music composed by L.M. Christian
Lyrics written by W. O. M. Pond

Dominica’s National Anthem was first written in 1965 as a National Song. It became the National Anthem in 1967 when Dominica achieved Associated Statehood status (1967 to 1978).

Our national anthem has a lovely melody and moving lyrics. When it is played, we stand to attention with hands (in closed fists) at our sides.

It is such a delightful national anthem that it was named one of the top ten anthems among 205 countries competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics!

The National Anthem of Dominica has three stanzas. Here are the lyrics:

The National Anthem of Dominica

Isle of beauty, isle of splendour,
Isle to all so sweet and fair,
All must surely gaze in wonder
At thy gifts so rich and rare.
Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains,
All these gifts we do extol.
Healthy land, so like all fountains,
Giving cheer that warms the soul.

Dominica, God hath blest thee
With a clime benign and bright,
Pastures green and flowers of beauty
Filling all with pure delight,
And a people strong and healthy,
Full of godly, rev’rent fear.
May we ever seek to praise Thee
For these gifts so rich and rare.

Come ye forward, sons and daughters
Of this gem beyond compare.
Strive for honor, sons and daughters,
Do the right, be firm, be fair.
Toil with hearts and hands and voices.
We must prosper!
Sound the call, In which ev’ry one rejoices,
“All for Each and Each for All.

Read more about Dominica’s National Symbols at avirtualDominica.com

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National Emblems Week: Dominica’s Flag

delphis — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:09:38 +0000

No national symbol is more representative of its country than its Flag.

Dominica’s Flag was originally designed in 1978 by Alwin Bully, a playwright and artist, who is now a national icon himself.

Dr. Lennox Honychurch provides a brief description of the Dominica Flag:

“The flag has a green background representing the forested island. A cross, made up of three bands representing “the Trinity of God” is white, black and yellow in colour, and the cross itself “demonstrates belief in God”. According to the designer, Alwin Bully, the colours of each band represent aspects of the land and the ethnic origins of its people: the yellow for the sunshine, the main agricultural products of the island at the time, citrus and bananas and the indigenous Carib/Kalinago people, the black for the soil and the African heritage, the white for the rivers and waterfalls of the island and the European influence.”

Read more at www.Lennox Honychurch.com

For more information about Dominica’s National Symbols and Emblems, visit avirtualDominica.com

Dominica’s 2016 Independence Celebrations

Check the Schedule of Events for Dominica’s 2016 Independence activities
Learn more about Dominica’s culture and heritage at avirtualDominica.com.

Delices Cultural Group

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