Thousands gathered in Roseau, Dominica at The World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), one of the island’s premier attractions, for its jubilee celebration on Oct. 25, 2025. Since its inception in 1997, the festival has highlighted music genres like zouk, soca, bouyon and more sounds from across the Caribbean and the Americas.
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The festival coincides with the celebrations of Creole month on the island. Since 1983, UNESCO has branded October 28 as World Creole Day to celebrate the various creole cultures and languages across the globe. Dominica’s own creole culture is a mix of African and French cultures. Jounen Kwéyòl, also known as Creole Day, is celebrated on the last Friday of the month of October.
Since the 20th century, Creole music genres from the Caribbean have had a larger global impact. From Harry Belafonte bringing Calypso international, to Jamaica’s reggae and ska genres’ influence on the British punk rock wave of the 1970s, these genres have become much more popular to the point of making a festival of this scale possible.
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Today, Creole music genres are considered part of the “World Music” genre, and artists within these genres have influenced and collaborated with other artists from different regions. In fact, in recent years, the festival has expanded to showcasing Afrobeats and highlife artists, stretching its reach to Europe and Africa, demonstrating its ties to the larger “world music” scene. In recent years, artists like Kassav, the Wailers ,Wyclef Jean and more have graced the festival’s stage. This year, globally acclaimed artists like Tiwa Savage, Davido and Buju Banton performed during the three day festival.
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Large music festivals like World Creole Music, St. Kitts Music Festival, Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica etc are massive economic drivers for economic growth for the Caribbean which is heavily impacted by tourism. WCMF is estimated to bring in more than $5 million dollars worth of business to the island, and creates at least 300 temporary jobs annually. In 1997, when the festival first started, there were 5,000 attendees.
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These days, Windsor Park Sports Stadium, where the festival is hosted, can hold up to 12,000 people. Local hotels and accommodations businesses can expect up to 45% uptick in occupancy rates. Local restaurants and bars see an average of $750,000 of revenue during the festival period. Local businesses can expect a 65% increase in sales.
While the festival is blossoming into an international sensation, Dominican culture is still at the center. This year, emerging local acts like Rohie, Kenny G, Little Boy, and more electrified the crowds. Veteran Bouyon acts including Asa Bantan, WCK, and the Midnight Groovers brought the energy. The festival continues to be a celebration of Dominica’s history while building a pathway into its future.
Oisakhose Aghomo | Correspondent
Oisakhose Aghomo is a Georgia peach by way of Nigeria, but she is currently based in Austin, Texas. She is a writer, researcher, and documentarian. Oisakhose is passionate about equitable access to news and information. She is studying for a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media at Moody College of Communication at University of Texas, Austin. At Latina Republic, she’ll cover stories from the Caribbean, focusing on the arts, community-driven environmental initiatives, and cultural celebrations. In her free time, Oisakhose enjoys experimenting with new recipes and hosting dinners for her friends. She’s also a burgeoning acrobat, practicing aerial silks and lyra. A passionate traveler and a lover of all things media, she’s an avid TV and movie watcher. Her current inspirations include Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Amaarae, and Jeremy Strong.