Castries, Saint Lucia: Due to the incoming weather and under advisement from the Saint Lucia MET Services of the possibility of thunderstorms and flooding, Fèsten Tanbou has been postponed, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister of Saint Lucia Ernest Hilaire.
The Fèsten Tanbou, or the Drum Festival, scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 21, at the Belle Vue Combined School, has been postponed due to harsh ‘ weather warnings issued by MET services, prioritizing citizens’ safety.
As per the weather report issued by Saint Lucia MET Services, for the next 24 hours, winds will blow between the south and southeast near 12 mph/19 km/h.
Change in wind speed is anticipated to occur multiple times. The weather will remain mostly cloudy, with scattered light, moderate showers, and possible isolated thunderstorms.
The Deputy PM advised to Stay tuned to official social media accounts (@folkresearchcentre, @eventssainlucia) for more information on new dates and times and urged citizens to remain safe and collect necessary equipment to tackle the effects of thunderstorms and flooding amid the warnings issued by Saint Lucia MET services.
The Fèsten Tanbou, also known as the Drum Festival, is celebrated to demonstrate the island’s rich drumming culture, which has been continued since the period of Transatlantic enslavement. The festival is celebrated annually during Creole Heritage Month.
Drumming is also considered the backbone of Saint Lucia’s culture and holds significant importance in the music played during séances; Solo and Dennery Segment occurred recently.
This year, Creole Heritage Month is being celebrated under the theme “Kwéyòl- Wasin Pèp-la”, which means “Creole-The Root of the People”.
The Saint Lucia Folk Research Centre highlighted the importance of cultural activities in various communities across the island to strengthen the island’s rich culture, including Creole customs and traditions.
Saint Lucia is anticipated to celebrate Fèsten Tanbou with same energy and excitement after the weather gets normal, and it is safe to observe the cultural festival they have been practising for several years.