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Dancehall star Masicka has officially joined the star‐studded lineup for the 2025 edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), alongside American R&B sensation Kehlani — setting the stage for one of the most globally appealing rosters in the event’s history. Masicka’s addition is especially noteworthy as he now shares the billing with dancehall icon Vybz Kartel, who was announced earlier this summer as the festival’s headline act. While Masicka will command the stage on Night One of the three‐day spectacle, Kartel is set to perform on Night Two, creating back‐to‐back nights of dancehall dominance that are already generating massive regional and international buzz. In fact, Kartel’s initial announcement in July caused early bird tickets to sell out in record time.
The silver‐jubilee edition of WCMF will run from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau, Dominica. This year’s theme — Global Echoes of the Nature Island: Celebrating 25 Years of Creole Music, Magic, and Memories — promises a high‐energy celebration of Caribbean rhythm, cultural heritage, and international flair. Masicka’s Night One appearance, part of the “Fire & Foundation” programme, will see him share the stage with trailblazing Caribbean acts such as Burning Flames from Antigua, Haitian‐American kompa legends Nu Look, Jamaican reggae crooner Romain Virgo, and Grammy‐winning reggae band Steel Pulse.
Night Two belongs to Vybz Kartel, whose set is being billed as a pivotal moment in his ongoing global resurgence. The Gaza General’s recent European stint has placed him alongside megastars like Drake and Burna Boy at major festivals including Germany’s SummerJam and the U.K.’s Wireless Festival. His career momentum recently soared even higher when his 2011 summer anthem Summer Time was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams exceeding 200,000 units in the U.K. The Dominica performance will see him join a Caribbean‐powered bill featuring regional icons such as Spice, KES The Band, Gordon Henderson, and Asa Bantan.
Closing out the festival on Night Three, Kehlani will make her WCMF debut, performing alongside soca power couple Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage, zouk pioneers Kassav, and other stars from across Africa and the Caribbean. The festival’s organisers say this year’s programming reflects a deliberate push to “broaden the festival’s international scope while preserving its Creole heart,” a mission clearly echoed in the diversity of the 2025 lineup.
With its milestone anniversary, sold‐out early bird tickets, and a roster that blends regional legends with international heavyweights, the 2025 World Creole Music Festival is shaping up to be a cultural tour de force. From Masicka’s fiery opening‐night set to Vybz Kartel’s highly anticipated Saturday night performance and Kehlani’s grand finale, Dominica is preparing to host a celebration where Creole music meets the global stage — and the world will be listening.
English (US) ·