In Saint Lucia, the month of October has been a time of pride and transmission for over forty years. Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025, coordinated by the
An official launch and a national program
Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025 was launched on September 30 at the National Cultural Centre de Castries, under the direction of the Folk Research Centre, founded in 1973 by Monsignor Patrick Anthony. The FRC, renowned for its work on intangible heritage, coordinates the month’s activities throughout the country.
The official program published by the FRC includes several major events:
- – the Woulélaba Festival, a sporting competition inspired by traditional cricket;
- – the election of La Wenn Kwéyòl, the Creole Queen;
- – concerts and cultural exhibitions in various towns;
- – and the month’s grand finale, the Jounen Kwéyòl, on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
This national day will take place in two localities: Babonneau, to the north, and Belle Vue (Vieux-Fort), to the south, designated as host communities by the FRC.
Jounen Kwéyòl: the highlight of Creole Month
Created in the early 1980s, the Jounen Kwéyòl has become one of Saint Lucia’s most important cultural events. It has been designed to encourage the public use of kwéyòl and to promote popular expressions: music, cooking, crafts and storytelling.
In 2025, this closing day will bring together schools, associations and cultural groups, as it does every year. The streets are decked out in madras, traditional dishes are prepared by families and local music resonates in the neighborhoods.
FRC reminds us that :
“Jounen Kwéyòl is not just a celebration: it’s an act of gratitude to our roots and those who have brought them to life.”
This approach, centered on the community rather than tourism, gives Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025 a rare authenticity in the Caribbean cultural landscape.
The driving force behind the Folk Research Centre
Since its creation, the Folk Research Centre has worked to research, document and transmit Creole heritage. Its founder, Monsignor Patrick Anthony, was one of the first to advocate the use of kwéyòl in media and education.
Today, the center is responsible for preparing Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025, coordinating local events and training cultural leaders. Each year, it publishes an official calendar, accessible to the public, setting out the dates and themes of events.
The theme chosen for 2025, “Kwéyòl Sé Fòs Nou” (“Creole is our strength”), underlines the idea that language remains a lever for unity and resilience.
Wenn Kwéyòl and traditional festivities
Among the key events, La Wenn Kwéyòl has a special place. This competition, organized each year by the FRC, showcases women from different communities. They are judged on their mastery of the Kwéyòl language, their knowledge of customs and their artistic performance. Beyond the title, this election symbolizes the transmission of family and social values within Lucian society.
The month also includes cultural and religious events such as the Fèt Magwit a floral celebration dedicated to Saint Marguerite and deeply rooted in popular tradition. Its location in the middle of the Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl reinforces the link between spirituality and cultural identity.
A month of openness and regional solidarity
The 2025 edition of Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl has a regional perspective. The cultural authorities have announced the arrival of a cultural group from French Guiana, invited by the FRC. This cooperation illustrates the solidarity between Creole-speaking peoples and rekindles ties between Saint Lucia and the French-speaking territories of the Caribbean.
The FRC is also encouraging the country’s other communes to organize their own activities around the month’s theme, so that the whole island is involved in passing on the kwéyòl heritage.
A value shared throughout the Caribbean
Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025 is a benchmark for the region. It demonstrates that a nation can preserve its language and heritage without museumizing them. Through songs, stories and gestures, Saint Lucia reminds us that Creolité is not a vestige, but a living force.
By placing Kwéyòl at the heart of its public life, the country is affirming a simple conviction: culture is first and foremost defended by practicing it. The Mwa éwitaj Kwéyòl 2025 thus continues the work of a people who have made their language a tool of pride, solidarity and the future.
