Two Jamaican acts Macka Diamond and Luciano, are set to join French and Dominican artistes as headliners for the first ever Reggae Creole Festival to be held in the Caribbean island of Dominica on April 29.

The festival dubbed ‘Ragga Kweyol’ will see Admiral T of Guadeloupe, Paille and the Red Ties Gang from Martinique, and Atunyah, Colton T and Fanatik Band of Dominica taking to the stage alongside their Jamaican counterparts.

The organisers note that the primary focus of the festival is to achieve market expansion, economic stimulation, and boost tourism arrivals in that country by adding another unique attraction to Dominica. The event will particularly target the islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Lucia because of the common creole culture, and the ease of travel.

“Raga was designed with some French consultancy and input to give it the best marketability and results in these territories, specifically Martinique and Guadeloupe. And the day chosen also, was best suited for that market and ideally for us to create a high season out of a traditionally low season,” Gisele Astaphan stated.

Astaphan added that the festival will provide a platform for local and regional artistes to interact, develop new markets for local and foreign artistes, as well as advertise the ease of travel between the islands.

“Raga also serves as a forum for sponsors to target a new audience, a new market, and it also promotes the creole culture in another music genre, which is Reggae Dancehall,” Astaphan further added.