At the 25th anniversary of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), Cultural Ambassador Leroy ‘Wadix’ Charles made a heartfelt plea for the Dominican government to officially honor Gordon Henderson, the musical pioneer behind the nation’s first indigenous genre, Cadence-lypso. Addressing a vibrant audience, Charles emphasized the profound influence of Henderson and his band, Exile One, who revolutionized Dominica’s music scene in 1973. ‘Before 1973, Dominica’s musicians played global tunes,’ Charles remarked. ‘But Henderson and Exile One gave us Cadence-lypso, a genre that defines our cultural identity and makes the World Creole Music Festival possible.’ Charles urged the government to commemorate Henderson and the late Fitzroy Williams, Exile One’s keyboardist, by naming a landmark or institution in their honor. Henderson, present at the event, responded modestly, stating, ‘No one is a prophet in this country.’ Charles also highlighted Henderson’s pivotal role as the overseas coordinator of the inaugural WCMF in 1997, which brought international media attention to Dominica. ‘Let’s honor our heroes,’ Charles implored. ‘Let’s recognize those who paved the way for us.’ The festival, now a cornerstone of Dominican culture, owes its existence to the legacy of Cadence-lypso, Charles asserted.
Cultural ambassador Leroy Charles calls for national recognition of Cadence-Lypso pioneer Gordon Henderson
