The month of October marks the celebration of Creole Heritage in Saint Lucia. The observation is a major cultural event which features the participation of all citizens.

Acting Director of the Folk Research Centre (FRC), Hilary La Force explains that it was in 1983 that International Creole Day- Jounen Kwéyòl Entonnasyonal was first declared and since then the Folk Research Centre FRC has embraced the initiative.

“This year is thirty years since that declaration. However, the FRC has celebrated for just about twenty- eight years. It began in 1984. The first Jounen Kwéyòl or International Creole Day celebration was held in Mon Repos.”

La Force noted on that day the late Dame Sessenne Descartes was hailed Saint Lucia’s “Queen of Culture.”

Over the years La Force explains, there has been a transition from a one day celebration to an entire month. During that period the importance of the creole language is always highlighted.

“We thought that one day was not sufficient to really promote our culture, particularly surrounding the Creole language. And we thought we should have what we call an entire month called Creole Heritage Month and efforts were concentrated in having the celebration around the Creole language to the extent that on that day we ensured that everyone spoke the Kwéyòl language mainly and even at the places where we had the Jounen Kwéyòl hosted by the communities, persons who attempted to speak English would be charged a small fee for not speaking the Kwéyòl language.”

There are several activities surrounding the celebration of Creole Heritage. They include La Wenn and Jennes Kwéyòl pageants, Kwéyòl Poetry, storytelling and Creole literacy programmes.