It’s official, Dominica’s Lady Of Song Ophelia Marie will be honoured as Dominica’s musical icon at this year’s World Creole Music Festival.
The announcement was made at a Dominica Festival Committee press conference on Tuesday August 18th.
According to Festival Promoter, Leroy Charles, “Prior to her inception in the Creole music world, it was more of a masculine thing. When Ophelia came on the scene, she stormed through the French Antilles and Creole world bringing a level of respectability to the woman and Creole Music. She paved the way for several others….”
Ophelia began her music career in the 1980s and became the first Dominican and first Creole woman to receive international awards for her musical achievements.
She was present at Tuesday’s press conference and gave credit to one of Dominica’s greats for her achievements.
“La Grande Dame de la Musique Antilles”, in response, pleaded with Dominica to hold on to the Creole music culture.
“If we have the confidence to have the World Creole Music Festival, it is because ur music represents something. It is the resource that we use to draw people to our country, our Boiling Lake, Freshwater Lake and others. We cannot let go of that music.”
The World Creole Music Festival 2015 will, this year, feature the musical stylings of Jocelyn Beroard and Jacob Desvarieux of Kassav, Olatunji and Benjai of Trinidad, and local acts, Asa Banton, Xtasy and Triple K Global among many others.
Ophelia will feature on Night Two of the festival.
Meantime, Chief Executive Officer of the Discover Dominica Authority, Colin Piper is satisfied with the response from the festival lineup.
He acknowledged Government as the presenting sponsor of the festival, saying that the new Tourism Minister’s consultative approach will add to the success of the event.
Piper says two months away from the festival, the DFC is concentrating on marketing and promotions.
The committee was in Saint Martin last week on a mission.
As part of the hype before the festival, 500 season tickets are available for sale at a reduced price of $200.
Upon payment using a valid picture ID, patrons will be given a receipt which they can then exchange for a ticket after September 1st.
In the coming weeks the DFC will also do promotions in the French West Indies and New York.
The World Creole Music Festival is carded for October 30th to November 1st.