ROSEAU, Dominica – IT was an entertaining night of music infused with Soca, Creole, and Reggae as Dominicans showed up, showed out, and partied through a few light showers on the opening night of the World Creole Festival.
The night began with Extasy delivering an energetic performance, getting the crowd grooving to pulsating rhythms. The band shared how their struggles have shaped the music they create and produce.
T-Vice, the Haitian band, kept the audience swaying to the sounds of French Creole, much to the delight of many gathered at Windsor Park Cricket Stadium. Even when the skies opened, the crowd refused to let the showers interrupt their enjoyment.
As the night progressed, Rotimi, with his soulful vibes, kept the energy alive, and the crowd rocked in anticipation of the night’s bigger performances.
Known for her powerful voice and groovy Soca lyrics, Nadia Batson left it all on the stage, delighting the large crowd. Many festival-goers had treated the earlier performances as a warm-up for Batson, and when she finally took the stage after midnight, she received rapturous applause from the Dominicans. Her high-energy performance had the audience jumping to her infectious lyrics.
During her hour-long set, Batson belted out popular hits, including “Market” and “So Long,” keeping the entire crowd gyrating to the beat.
Valiant brought the dancehall reggae vibes to the night, lighting up the stage with his performance. In a post-performance interview, he thanked the people of Dominica for their support, noting that the island was one of the first places to book him before he became an established artist. Despite his playful "dunce" persona in his lyrics, Valiant encouraged the youth to pursue education, emphasizing that he himself is well-educated.
The party continued into the early hours of Saturday, with many attendees leaving wet but satisfied.
Festival-goers agreed they got their money’s worth, and the outstanding performances on the first night set the stage for what promises to be an even more exciting night two.