The Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre (FRC) will host a national public conversation on Kwéyòl in celebration of International Creole Day – Jounen Kwéyòl Entannasyonnal. The event entitled “Fèt Lanng Kwéyòl” is scheduled to be held at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday 28th October from 9.30 am.
Presentations will be made by founding members of the national Kwéyòl Movement including Dame Pearlette Louisy and Msgr. Patrick Anthony. In addition, a team of national expert facilitators will lead interactive sessions on the fundamentals of the Kwéyòl writing system. The public conversation will be an immersive cultural experience spiced with Creole music, a mini exhibition and the sale of resource materials on the Kwéyòl language. Also expected to join in the conversation will be representatives of groups of creole speaking people from Cayenne and Grenada who will be in Saint Lucia to participate in national Jounen Kwéyòl celebrations.
The celebrations are being held posthumously in honour of three Saint Lucian advocates for the Kwéyòl language – Mrs Armelle Mathurin of Mon Repos, founding member of the Mouvman Kwéyòl Sent Lisi; Dr Hazel Simmonds Mac Donald, regional educator, academic and researcher on Kwéyòl language acquisition; Mr. Leonard Robinson, multi-language specialist and advocate for Kwéyòl language use in Saint Lucian schools.
A number of organisations, including national agencies and the private sector, have partnered with the FRC for the event. These include the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), the Saint Lucia National Commission for UNESCO, the Laborie Credit Union and Calabash Television.
October 28th was officially recognised by UNESCO in 1983 as International Creole Day, and has been celebrated annually by people of the Creole speaking populations globally. In the Caribbean, activities are held nationally in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti and Cayenne. The observance presents opportunities for learning discussions and advocacy on the cultural, economic and political significance of the Creole languages.
Saint Lucia celebrates Jounen Kwéyòl 2025 under theme – “Kwéyòl Sé Fòs Nou”