World Creole Music Festival 2026: Maxi Priest, Uncle Waffles, Diblo Dibala and Shelly & The Signal Band Deliver a Memorable Closing Night

From Guadeloupean musical heritage and Congolese Soukous to reggae, Amapiano and high-energy Caribbean performances, the closing night of the World Creole Music Festival delivered a celebration of musical diversity.

The final night of the 2026 World Creole Music Festival brought three nights of music, culture and entertainment to a fitting close, with an eclectic programme that moved effortlessly between traditional Caribbean sounds, reggae, Soukous, Amapiano, dancehall and international music.

With the programme getting underway at 5:02 PM, the closing night offered something for everyone, bringing together local talent, regional performers and international acts for a celebration of music and culture.

Culture Sets the Tone for the Final Night

As tradition dictates, the evening opened with the national anthem and prayer before moving into the cultural performances. Point Michel Cultural Group was first to take the stage, setting the tone with a celebration of Dominica’s cultural heritage.

The evening was hosted by Barrie Hype alongside JL of Black Island Girl Media, who guided patrons through the night’s entertainment. Following the cultural showcase, the stage was set for an international musical journey, beginning with performers from Guadeloupe.

Les Aiglons Bring Guadeloupe’s Musical Heritage to Dominica

Opening the musical performances of the evening were Guadeloupe’s legendary group Les Aiglons, who brought a strong dose of French Caribbean musical heritage to the Windsor Park stage.

Their performance celebrated the classic rhythms and sounds that have helped establish their place in Caribbean music history. With their distinctive musical arrangements and rich Caribbean influences, Les Aiglons reminded audiences of the importance of the musical traditions shared across the French Caribbean.

It was an appropriate way to begin the musical programme, connecting generations through sounds that remain deeply rooted in Caribbean culture and demonstrating the festival’s commitment to showcasing the region’s diverse musical heritage.

Jean-Marc Ferdinand Continues the Guadeloupean Showcase

Following Les Aiglons, fellow Guadeloupean performer Jean-Marc Ferdinand continued the French Caribbean musical showcase, bringing his own energy and connection with the audience. Known for the popular Caribbean party anthem “Dis La Réyé”, Ferdinand gave patrons another opportunity to embrace the sounds coming out of Guadeloupe. His performance added another dimension to the evening’s opening musical section, with the connection between performer and audience reflecting the way Caribbean music transcends borders.

The official Dominica Festivals social media coverage captured the atmosphere, highlighting how Ferdinand brought the music while the crowd brought the energy.

Diblo Dibala Takes Dominica on a Soukous Journey

The musical journey continued with Congolese guitar legend Diblo Dibala, who brought a completely different flavour to the closing night with a full-band Soukous performance. Known for his exceptional guitar playing and the nickname “Machine Gun”, Dibala delivered an African musical experience that demonstrated the global reach of the festival.

His intricate guitar melodies, infectious rhythms and the energy of the accompanying musicians brought another dimension to the evening. The performance offered patrons an opportunity to experience the infectious sounds of Congolese Soukous while reinforcing the festival’s ability to bring African and Caribbean musical cultures together on one stage.

Maxi Priest Brings Reggae Nostalgia and Musical Diversity

International reggae star Maxi Priest was another highlight of the evening, taking to the stage to a warm reception from the crowd. From the moment he began singing, patrons were more than ready to join in, singing along to familiar songs and dancing throughout his performance. His appearance was a reminder of just how extensive his musical catalogue is and the lasting connection his music has built with audiences across generations. Maxi Priest was a fitting addition to the closing night. After an opening night that featured reggae firebrand Capleton, his more laid-back yet equally engaging performance offered a welcome change of pace without sacrificing the energy of the festival.

His set also reflected the diversity of musical tastes that the World Creole Music Festival continues to embrace, demonstrating that a memorable festival experience is not always about maintaining one tempo but about giving audiences different sounds and experiences.

Following his performance, DJ SXXM and DJ Outcast took over, keeping patrons entertained and the atmosphere moving.

Uncle Waffles Introduces the Amapiano Experience

South African DJ and performer Uncle Waffles brought an entirely different energy to the festival with a full Amapiano set. Her performance was complemented by dancers who moved around the DJ decks and periodically joined her on stage, creating a visually engaging show that added another dimension to the music.

The response from the crowd was particularly interesting. Those already familiar with Uncle Waffles and the Amapiano movement were fully immersed, dancing and following the routines, while others watched attentively, gradually becoming drawn into the experience as the performance unfolded.

It was a refreshing change of pace and a welcome opportunity to introduce or further expose festivalgoers to a sound that continues to make waves internationally.

The performance was well received by both locals and visitors, demonstrating the festival’s willingness to look beyond traditional Caribbean genres and embrace the global sounds influencing today’s music scene.

Friday Brings the Energy for the Ladies

Following Uncle Waffles, Friday took to the stage and quickly established who his performance was aimed at. The ladies were certainly enjoying themselves, with their cheers and reactions making it clear that he had found his audience.

His performance brought another shift in atmosphere, keeping the entertainment varied as the night progressed and giving the audience another opportunity to enjoy the festival’s diverse musical offering.

Shelly & The Signal Band Turn Up the Heat – Is It Time for Signal Sundays?

If there was one performance that completely transformed the atmosphere of the venue, it was Shelly & The Signal Band. From the very first note, the energy shifted. What might have been a seven out of ten quickly became a twelve, and the band managed to maintain that level throughout its performance.

Featuring Nice, Shaxxs, Gudda G, Freddy and Reel Rel, with DJ Taffy also contributing to the musical experience, the group delivered a powerful performance that kept patrons on their feet and fully engaged.

The chemistry between the performers and the audience was evident, with the crowd responding enthusiastically throughout the set.

After two nights of continuous entertainment, the band demonstrated exactly why it had been entrusted with such an important closing-night performance. It takes something special to lift an already excited audience and keep them at that level, but Shelly & The Signal Band managed to do just that.

During the press conference, Shelly jokingly suggested that Sunday should be renamed Signal Sundays, pointing out that this was the band’s fifth time performing on the festival’s final night.

Judging by the audience’s response, there was certainly a case to be made. The band’s ability to maintain such a high level of audience interaction and musical energy made its performance one of the standout moments of the closing night.

Michael Keeps the Momentum Going

Following another DJ set, Michael took to the stage with a high-paced performance that immediately got the audience moving. Starting at full speed, he delivered a selection of energetic hits, supported by his dancers and regular interaction with patrons.

However, one of the more interesting moments came when he briefly slowed things down with a musical age check.

Switching to a selection of reggae classics, he challenged the audience to identify the songs, using their responses to gauge the different generations and musical knowledge within the crowd.

Once he had established his audience, it was back to business.

With his dancers joining him and continued interaction with patrons, Michael brought the energy back up and maintained the momentum throughout his performance.

A Fitting End to Three Nights of Music, Culture and Caribbean Unity

The closing night of the 2026 World Creole Music Festival was a reminder of the importance of musical diversity in creating an international festival experience.

From the cultural showcase by Point Michel Cultural Group to the Guadeloupean sounds of Les Aiglons and Jean-Marc Ferdinand, the Congolese Soukous of Diblo Dibala, the reggae catalogue of Maxi Priest, the global Amapiano sounds of Uncle Waffles, the crowd appeal of Friday and the explosive performances from Shelly & The Signal Band and Michael, the programme offered a little bit of everything.

Across three nights, the festival demonstrated its ability to bring together different generations, musical styles and cultures under one roof.

Most importantly, the final night showed that celebrating Creole culture does not mean limiting the musical experience. It means creating a platform where Dominica’s cultural identity can stand alongside Caribbean, African and international sounds.

The combination of traditional cultural performances, regional Caribbean music and international acts reinforced the festival’s position as an important meeting point for music lovers from across the world.

As the curtains came down on another edition, the closing night provided a fitting celebration of music, entertainment and the connections that festivals like this continue to create.

Three nights, different cultures, countless musical moments – and another memorable World Creole Music Festival.