Twenty artistes will battle for the Kwéyòl crown at Serenity Park on Saturday, October 24, bringing zouk, cadence, calypso, Dennery Segment, rap and reggae into one competition. Starting at 6 p.m., the 2026 National Kwéyòl Song Competition, Chanté Kwéyòl, will put the language and local musical talent centre stage during Saint Lucia’s Creole Heritage Month celebrations.
Republic Bank EC Limited is again partnering with organiser Kay Kwéyòl to support the event at the Sans Souci venue. Kay Kwéyòl Executive Director Caron Tobiere says that support helps sustain both the competition and an important performance opportunity for local artistes.
“Chanté Kwéyòl is unique in its format. It is the only such event on the Saint Lucia entertainment calendar that brings together different genres of music competing on one stage!” Tobiere said. She credits that mix of musical styles with helping the competition maintain its appeal.
The event began in 2012 as a Kwéyòl calypso competition founded by Gordon “Chacom” Leon. Fourteen years later, it has grown into a contest spanning multiple genres, with performers bringing different sounds to a shared celebration of Kwéyòl.
The partnership with Republic Bank began four years ago, and Tobiere says organisers would struggle to finance the event without the bank’s backing. Beyond the competition for the crown, she highlighted its role in celebrating Saint Lucia’s Kwéyòl language and giving artistes a stage they might otherwise struggle to access.
