Jounen Kwéyòl - Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Sandy Hill Community Centre, Ottawa
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Doors Open at 2:30 PM
Sandy Hill Community Center, 250 Somerset Street E,
Saint Lucia Ottawa Association Annual Jounen Kweyol Celebration. Bring your family and friends to celebrate with US!An afternoon of Saint Lucian culture, entertainment, food, music & more await you! Kweyol food and drinks will be on Sale! Music by DJ Hypnotix Sounds. Dress code: National attire is Strongly encouraged. Price: $15.00, Seniors and
Students $10.00, Children 12 and under Free
Doors Open at 2:30 PM
Sandy Hill Community Center, 250 Somerset Street E,
Saint Lucia Ottawa Association Annual Jounen Kweyol Celebration. Bring your family and friends to celebrate with US!An afternoon of Saint Lucian culture, entertainment, food, music & more await you! Kweyol food and drinks will be on Sale! Music by DJ Hypnotix Sounds. Dress code: National attire is Strongly encouraged. Price: $15.00, Seniors and
Students $10.00, Children 12 and under Free
Jounen Kwéyòl - Celebrating the beauty of Creole culture!
Photo by Sarah Onyango - 2011 “Jounen Kwèyól” celebration in Ottawa
The International Creole revival first started in the 1970’s and was introduced as a way of honoring a common heritage shared by millions of creole speaking countries throughout the world. International Creole Day takes place every year on October 28th.
“Jounen Kwèyól” or Creole day, celebrated by Saint Lucia and other small island nations, takes place every year on the nearest Sunday to the International Creole Day and was first introduced in Saint Lucia in 1984. It has greatly contributed to raising awareness and increasing
knowledge of the island’s heritage. Jounen Kwèyól is a day of music, dance, food and all things creole. The festival is celebrated with local dishes and foods such as roast breadfruit, Green Fig and Salt Fish (The National Dish of St.Lucia), plantain, king fish, Manicou (opossum), Souse (a soup made with pork and often cucumber), fried bake and floats, Accra (a fried dough which contains salt fish), Paime (otherwise known as Conkies) and a famous dish known as Bouillon (fish, chicken or meat stewed with dasheen, yams, plantains, banana and dumplings). Most people commemorate this day by wearing the island's national costume such as the Wob Dwiete or less elaborate outfits made with the island nation's distinctive Madras cotton fabric.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
1pm – 6pm (Jounen Kweyol); 7pm - 1am (dance)
Jim Durrell Recreation Centre - 1265, Walkley Rd. Ottawa
Jounen Kweyol Celebration, presented by St. Lucia Ottawa Association of Ottawa (under the distinguished patronage of Mr. Michael Willius, Consul General of St. Lucia in Toronto) . Featuring: entertainment by "Mamai La Caye" folk band direct from St. Lucia, folk dances, fashion show, DJ Hypnotix Sound, Creole food and tropical drinks on sale, Market place and more. Network with local St. Lucians while enjoying a taste of Creole culture! Admission: (Jounen Kweyol) $10 – Children under 16 yrs, free; (dance) $15. To reserve/buy your tickets call 613-800-2384 or 613-729-9076. Website: www.stluciaottawa.com
The International Creole revival first started in the 1970’s and was introduced as a way of honoring a common heritage shared by millions of creole speaking countries throughout the world. International Creole Day takes place every year on October 28th.
“Jounen Kwèyól” or Creole day, celebrated by Saint Lucia and other small island nations, takes place every year on the nearest Sunday to the International Creole Day and was first introduced in Saint Lucia in 1984. It has greatly contributed to raising awareness and increasing
knowledge of the island’s heritage. Jounen Kwèyól is a day of music, dance, food and all things creole. The festival is celebrated with local dishes and foods such as roast breadfruit, Green Fig and Salt Fish (The National Dish of St.Lucia), plantain, king fish, Manicou (opossum), Souse (a soup made with pork and often cucumber), fried bake and floats, Accra (a fried dough which contains salt fish), Paime (otherwise known as Conkies) and a famous dish known as Bouillon (fish, chicken or meat stewed with dasheen, yams, plantains, banana and dumplings). Most people commemorate this day by wearing the island's national costume such as the Wob Dwiete or less elaborate outfits made with the island nation's distinctive Madras cotton fabric.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
1pm – 6pm (Jounen Kweyol); 7pm - 1am (dance)
Jim Durrell Recreation Centre - 1265, Walkley Rd. Ottawa
Jounen Kweyol Celebration, presented by St. Lucia Ottawa Association of Ottawa (under the distinguished patronage of Mr. Michael Willius, Consul General of St. Lucia in Toronto) . Featuring: entertainment by "Mamai La Caye" folk band direct from St. Lucia, folk dances, fashion show, DJ Hypnotix Sound, Creole food and tropical drinks on sale, Market place and more. Network with local St. Lucians while enjoying a taste of Creole culture! Admission: (Jounen Kweyol) $10 – Children under 16 yrs, free; (dance) $15. To reserve/buy your tickets call 613-800-2384 or 613-729-9076. Website: www.stluciaottawa.com
Typically Saint Lucian...
The Culture of Saint Lucia blends the influences of African, French, and English heritage. The official language of the island is English but Kreole, a form of French patois, remains an influential secondary language.
The banjo and cuatro are iconic Lucian folk instruments, especially a four-stringed banjo called the bwa poye.
The most important of the Afro-Lucian Creole folk dances is the kwadril. Kwadril music is provided by an ensemble consisting of a four-stringed instrument, the cuatro (instrument), a rattle, the chakchak, bones called zo, a violin, banjo (skroud, bwa pòyé), mandolin and guitar. A kwadril consists of five separate dances: the pwémyé fidji, dézyèm fidji, twazyèm fidji, katwiyèm fidji (also avantwa or lanmen dwèt) and gwan won (also grande rond). The musicians may also use a lakonmèt (mazurka), schottische or polka; the lakonmèt, also called the mazouk, is especially popular and is the only closed couple dance which originated in Saint Lucia.
The banjo and cuatro are iconic Lucian folk instruments, especially a four-stringed banjo called the bwa poye.
The most important of the Afro-Lucian Creole folk dances is the kwadril. Kwadril music is provided by an ensemble consisting of a four-stringed instrument, the cuatro (instrument), a rattle, the chakchak, bones called zo, a violin, banjo (skroud, bwa pòyé), mandolin and guitar. A kwadril consists of five separate dances: the pwémyé fidji, dézyèm fidji, twazyèm fidji, katwiyèm fidji (also avantwa or lanmen dwèt) and gwan won (also grande rond). The musicians may also use a lakonmèt (mazurka), schottische or polka; the lakonmèt, also called the mazouk, is especially popular and is the only closed couple dance which originated in Saint Lucia.
Typically Saint Lucian...
La Rose and La Marguerite
La Rose and La Marguerite are rival societies that commemorate the Anglo-French heritage of the island; the factions represent the warring colonial powers, between whose hands Saint Lucia changed fourteen times.La Rose is held on August 3oth while La Margurite is held on October 17th.The societies date back to the early 19th century, when each village was home to competing organizations of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cakes commemorating La Rose and La Marguerite presented at 2010 Jounen Kweyol event by St. Lucia Ottawa Association
Photo by Sarah Onyango
La Rose and La Marguerite are rival societies that commemorate the Anglo-French heritage of the island; the factions represent the warring colonial powers, between whose hands Saint Lucia changed fourteen times.La Rose is held on August 3oth while La Margurite is held on October 17th.The societies date back to the early 19th century, when each village was home to competing organizations of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cakes commemorating La Rose and La Marguerite presented at 2010 Jounen Kweyol event by St. Lucia Ottawa Association
Photo by Sarah Onyango
A Saint Lucian cultural icon...
Dame Marie Selipha "Sesenne" Descartes (28 March 1914 – 11 August 2010)
Sesenne Descartes is the grand dame of St Lucian folk culture. A chantwelle of extraordinary talent, Sesenne captivated the imagination of all who heard her and as a result she was a central figure in the revival of the folk song and dance traditions of St Lucia that had threatened to fade into obscurity.
Sesenne Descartes is the grand dame of St Lucian folk culture. A chantwelle of extraordinary talent, Sesenne captivated the imagination of all who heard her and as a result she was a central figure in the revival of the folk song and dance traditions of St Lucia that had threatened to fade into obscurity.