Yes, in case you did not know, Notre Dame is French for “Our Lady” or “Our Mother” as in the Blessed Virgin Mary. So it’s no wonder that the Christian world stopped for a moment as the French watched horrified as this over 800-year-old edifice, the Notre Dame was gutted by fire just over a week ago.
Yes, she is a senior citizen now, she still shows no skin on stage, she may not have the showmanship or the songs that present-day youth would gravitate to. But her songs are monumental, and would blend in well with the targeted family-type atmosphere at the Cabrits? Ophelia still has a massive following and relevant to certain demographics, yet her patriotic songs and lyrical content were not even considered for showcasing at WCMF 2018 when we celebrated our 40th Anniversary of Independence. Ophelia’s contribution is as old as our nation. Ok, I hear someone say it’s an oversight.
Well, one would think that this oversight would not happen again particularly now that it is exactly 40 years. Who is more Creole than the Wadix dubbed “Mama Creole” as a performer in Dominica? Every day we hear the voices of Chubby, Co, Michele and others paying homage for the Lady of Song’s contribution (not the DFC….as yet I hope), but we found a way to remember Boo Hinckson and still keep ” walking with our eyes closed” or maybe our ears closed to the Notre Dame of Song.
I have no negative comments to make about any of the artists, chosen for the Jazz & Creole Festival as I think Mel and the Smith Brothers have a fantastic future, while Bo and other professional acts give some authenticity to the international Jazz element, but really it’s time to out the flames on the Notre Dame of Song in this country and acknowledge her contribution and put my DGS teacher where she belongs at the Cabrits, on the stage of Jazz and Creole; an institution within an institution.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
