Today, October 28, is International Creole Day (Jounen Kwéyòl) — observed the-world-over as designated by UNESCO.
But, unfortunately, apart from an activity (this writer knows of) happening at St. Mary’s College (SMC) and a statement by the Folk Research Centre (FRC)), it’s just another normal working day in Saint Lucia.
After over 40 years of agitation and hard work by the FRC and other local entities associated with promotion and development of Kwéyòl as the island’s Native Tongue and indigenous language, Jounen Kwéyòl is celebrated here on the Sunday closest to October 28.
Last Sunday, Ocober 25, therefore, saw the usual hectic and busy island-wide weekend of celebrations at the end of a full month of observances.
Thanks to the successful agitation that started even before Independence (1979), designation of Jounen Kwéyòl moved from one day to a Kwéyòl Week — and now a full month (Mwa Éwitaj Kwéyòl).
But, as has been the case in the past decade (or more), the celebration has become more of a seasonal event with concentration more on commercial activities and vending than on celebration of the history and culture of the island’s Mother Tongue.
Like with Christmas and Easter, Carnival and other national celebrations with a biblical origin, the emphasis is more on having a good time and enjoying the fun, than on vocational or educational aspects.
Last Sunday, for example, many people complained about the ridiculous prices being charged for everyday foods – like two ‘bakes’ for $5, coconuts at $5 each, $10 for a slice of fudge and $50 for a plate of ‘International Creole Day (Jounen Kwéyòl) Food’.
Thanks to the traffic nightmares associated with getting to selected venues, many persons have long opted to instead attend family Kwéyòl Day events (breakfast and/or lunch) hosted by friends, where – again – the emphasis is more on partying privately than on meaningful celebration of Kwéyòl culture.
With Saint Lucia building a reputation as ‘The Entertainment Capital of the Eastern Caribbean’, Carnival is more about Bacchanal and the St. Lucia Jazz Festival is more of a multi-music extravaganza – and the annual month-long Kwéyòl celebration is more of the same.
The reasons are understandable: the FRC lacks the human and financial resources to continue organizing related activities and selected communities concentrate more on catering for vending food and drinks and less on exhibiting aspects of the Kwéyòl culture, or the community’s history and contribution to that ever-evolving culture.
Not that the language hasn’t developed over the years and decades, as it’s elevated to the status of a written language, with dictionaries, courses and certificates (including an Honours Degree offered at branches of French Universities in Marrtinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana, as well as in Haiti.
Kwéyòl is also a recognized language at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the local Taiwan Embassy has also worked with the FRC to develop an App to help visitors better understand the language.
However, despite all this, at a national level, the language is less-spoken or understood by the young majority.
And although private sector businesses decorate their premises for Creole Day (Jounen Kwéyòl), nothing is being done to school staff in the language to better serve Kwéyòl-speaking customers.
This under-emphasis on developing the language along more sustainable lines can be easily overlooked, but it’s enough of a matter of national import to be of concern to all Saint Lucians and national entities — including Government, Private Sector, Civil Society, Teachers, Youth, Student and Community Organizations, Cultural and Local Government entities.
The FRC, Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), Ministry of Creative Industries and other such entities will need to consider these factors – and the National Reparations Committee (NRC) and Emancipation Month entities also need to give equal consideration, as Culture is a prime element of their activities.
Churches too may also have to take note, as it’s become normal for them to host Kwéyòl masses and may also want to consider eventual translation of newsletters and hymns.
Development of the language in Saint Lucia today is also at such an advanced stage that thought should also be given to the importance of recognizing the fact that it’s common to many countries internationally (including in US states with Haitian and creole-speaking Diaspora populations, Canada and Europe, as well as in Mauritius, Seychelles and some African nations), there are also significant differences in how it’s spoken.
As a language built out of many tongues and developed centuries ago, Kwéyòl deserves and requires a rescue mission through the likes of a national conversation and possibly several consultations.
For example, members of the NRC feel strongly that with Culture featuring in the CARICOM Reparations Commission’s (CRC’s) Ten-Point Plan (TPP) for Reparatory Justice and the importance of Kwéyòl in communicating the Reparations Message, how the language is being treated in Saint Lucia today ought to be part of the wider conversation on ‘internal repair’ being strongly advocated by the Rastafari community, as a necessary component of the organization’s national agitation.
It’s therefore necessary for all stakeholders to recognize the time has come for this important conversation on the present and future of Kwéyòl, to start the process of rescuing the language by doing more to not only introduce it to the national school’s curriculum, but also doing more to ensure that certain stigmas also be addressed.
The stark reality is that local foods are fast being overtaken and undervalued by the fast-food culture, which is also lessening the will by parents to teach their children the importance of learning to cook.
The younger ‘modern’ generation therefore sees use of coal-pots and hand-washing as ‘old-time’ traditions with no place in the modern world of the computer age – until the cooking gas runs-out, or the washing machine conks-out.
It’s for these and many other reasons that reading and writing have also become endangered vocations.
The time is now, therefore, for that national conversation on the future of Kwéyòl.