The twelfth annual edition of the National Kwéyòl Song Competition, Chanté Kwéyòl will take center stage on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Last year, Robert Rene emerged winner with an acapella piece entitled, “Ou sa lévé”.
The National Kwéyòl Song Competition began in 2012 as the brainchild of Gordon “Chacom” “Gin” Leon as a Kwéyòl calypso competition, under the name “Annou manjé, dansé, chanté Kwéyòl”. By 2014 the nature of the competition had changed to include all genres of music. This is the unique feature of Chanté Kwéyòl – it is the only song competition in Saint Lucia open to all genres of music!!
One of the features of this annual event is the educational component. Each year a Kwéyòl Writing Workshop is hosted. This year Apwann ékwi Kwéyòl was held on Saturday September 7 at the Grow Well headquarters in Gros Islet. The workshop was facilitated by Jason C. Joseph, cultural activist and Kwéyòl specialist.
Chanté Kwéyòl will this year feature 13 artistes with genres ranging from calypso to cadence/zouk, Dennery Segment and reggae. The following artistes will take center stage on Saturday October 12, 2024 backed by the big band Xtreme:
Sherlan; Afwéchi; Migz; Siah; Slot; Gregory Sinaise; Blaze; Ronald Darius; Prospere; Robert Rene and newcomers – BreezeThru; Senator and DaGreat.
In addition to the entertainment on stage, Kay Kwéyòl encourages audience members to come dressed in their Kwéyòl fashion pieces as there will be a door prize for the best Kwéyòl outfit.
Chanté Kwéyòl continues to honour the memory of Gordon “Chacom” “Gin” Leon: annou manjé, dansé, chanté kwéyòl pou Chacom.