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Saint Lucia is an island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The island was previously called Iyonola, the name given to the island by the native Arawaks, and later Hewanorra, the name given by the native Caribs, two separate Amerindian peoples. Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 and reported a population of 165,595 in the 2010 census. St. Lucia's largest city is Castries, its current capital, and its second largest is Soufrière, the first French colonial capital on the island.
Sir John George Melvin Compton, was a Saint Lucian politician who became the first Prime Minister upon independence in February 1979. Having led Saint Lucia under British rule from 1964 to 1979, Compton served as Prime Minister three times: briefly in 1979, again from 1982 to 1996, and from 2006 until his death in 2007. He cofounded the conservative United Workers Party (UWP) in 1964; he led the party until 1996, then again from 2005 to 2007.
The music of Saint Lucia is home to many vibrant oral and folk traditions and is based on elements derived from the music of Africa, especially rhythmically, and Western Europe, dances like the quadrille, polka and waltz. The banjo and cuatro are iconic Lucian folk instruments, especially a four-stringed banjo called the bwa poye. Celebratory songs called jwé show lyricism, and rhythmic complexity. The most important of the Afro-Lucian Creole folk dances is the kwadril. Music is an integral part of Lucian folk holidays and celebrations, as well as the good-natured rivalry between the La Rose and La Marguerite societies. There is little Western classical music on Saint Lucia, and the country's popular music industry is only nascent. There are few recording opportunities, though live music and radio remain a vital part of Lucian culture. Popular music from abroad, especially Trinidadian styles like calypso and soca, is widespread.
Kont is a kind of Saint Lucian folk song, performed as part of the funereal ceremony by mourners outside the deceased's house. These mourners sing kont, a responsorial Creole song, accompanied by drumming. The lyrics may refer to the last words or other aspects of the deceased's death. Mourners also dance to both the débòt and bélé, accompanied zo or tibwa and ka.
Sir Allan Fitzgerald Laurent Louisy was the second prime minister of independent St Lucia, following Sir John Compton in office. He was born in Laborie on 5 September 1916 and served as a judge before being elected to parliament in 1974.
The Culture of Saint Lucia blends the influences of African, French, and English heritage. The official language of the island is English but Kreole, a form of French patois, remains an influential secondary language. The people are predominantly Catholic but the religious climate is tolerant.
The Helenites were a popular Saint Lucian folk music group, led by Clement Springer. The Helenites were, along with The Hewanorra Voices, one of the island's earliest popular folk stars.
Dame Marie Selipha Descartes, DBE, SLMM, BEM, best known as Sesenne, was a Saint Lucian singer and cultural icon. Singing in her native patois language, at a time when authorities barred its use, Sesenne developed a wide following in the rural area in which she grew up. Patronage by St. Lucia's first woman legislator led to the singer's "discovery" by a cultural preservationist, who in turn introduced Sesenne to an American anthropologist to make recordings of her songs.
Clement Springer is a Saint Lucian folk musician and folklorist, leader of a group called The Helenites. He is also a leader of the Saint Lucia Cultural Organization.
Nicole David is a soca music artist from Saint Lucia. She is referred to as "St. Lucia's Queen of Soca" and was a member of the soca band DN5. She is now the lead vocalist of the band Spectacle.
The Folk Research Centre of Saint Lucia has studied and promoted the local music of Saint Lucia since its foundation in 1973.
In French Caribbean culture, especially of the Lesser Antilles, the term kwadril is a Creole term referring to a folk dance derived from the quadrille.
The Hewanorra Voices were a Lucian folk music ensemble, led by Joyce Auguste. They emerged in the 1970s, and were one of the premier groups of the Lucian roots revival, along with The Helenites. Their recordings include 1974's St. Lucia Jems and 1980's All Year Round With The Hewanorra Voices, both released by West Indies Records..
The monarchy of Saint Lucia is a system of government in which a hereditary, constitutional monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Saint Lucia. The present monarch of Saint Lucia is Elizabeth II, who is also the sovereign of the other Commonwealth realms. Her constitutional roles are mostly delegated to the governor-general of Saint Lucia.
The Saint Lucian passport is issued to citizens of Saint Lucia for international travel. As of 10 August 2021, Saint Lucian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 146 countries and territories, ranking the Saint Lucian passport 31st in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Education in St Lucia is compulsory from the ages of 5 to 15 years. Before Independence schools in St Lucia were managed by different religious denominations, in particular, the Roman Catholic Church, the Seventh-day Adventist, and Methodist churches. St Lucia has achieved universal primary education, and universal secondary education. School hours in St Lucia are normally from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with secondary schools starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m. There are approximately 73 primary schools in St Lucia, and 23 secondary schools. St Lucia has a number of medical schools and universities. The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College is located in Castries, where most St Lucians go to further their studies. The St Lucia government had begun to provide all Form 4 students on the island with laptops, but stopped in 2016 due to the new UWP guidelines. The literacy rate in St Lucia is estimated to be 90%.
Afro-Saint Lucians or African-Saint Lucians, are Saint Lucians whose ancestry lies within the continent of Africa.
India–Saint Lucia relations refers to the international relations that exist between India and Saint Lucia. The Embassy of India in Paramaribo, Suriname is concurrently accredited to Saint Lucia.
Petronilla Deterville, MBE was a St. Lucian musician and composer recognized for her work in founding youth music and theatrical groups. She was honored as a member of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the development and preservation of St. Lucia's folk music, as well as her efforts to utilize the arts to expand educational opportunities.
Harold Simmons was a Saint Lucian folklorist, artist, historian, and social worker. He is often referred to as "the father of modern arts and culture in Saint Lucia."
References
- "Development of Music in St. Lucia". About St. Lucia. Archived from the original on June 16, 2005. Retrieved August 28, 2005.
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