by Pearl Fontaine
Government Information Service
Plans are well underway for the hosting of the 2011 Dominica Festival of Arts (DOMFESTA) celebrations. The festival will run from April 29 to May 29 and is an ideal opportunity to showcase the island’s varied cultural expressions.
Last week the programme of activities for the month long event was officially launched during a ceremony at the Old Mill Cultural Centre.
“DOMFESTA is meant to showcase wholesome and beautiful aspects of our culture in Dominica. It is meant to focus more on the contemporary expressions of our culture as opposed to Carnival and Independence which we see as promoting and focusing more on the traditional aspects of Dominica’s culture. Like all other festivals, it is meant to strengthen our sense of national identity, pride in self, pride in country and of course, giving God thanks for the wonders of our environment and our various cultural expressions.”
 Chief Cultural Officer,
Raymond Lawrence
DOMFESTA celebrations will begin this year with the hosting of May fest in Marigot from Friday April 29 to Monday May 2nd. These activities include a show with local calypsonians accompanied by the Fanatic Band and WCK on Friday the 29th of April, the National Drumming Festival on Saturday 30th April, International Night featuring Black Rhino out of Jamaica on Sunday, May 1st and the inaugural Breadfruit Festival on Monday 2nd otherwise known this year as May Day.
As part of activities marking this year’s DOMFESTA celebrations a group of performers from Africa will perform here on Wednesday May 4.
The Discover Dominica Authority will host the second annual cultural spectacular and facilitate the airing of two films. |
