In a moving ceremony steeped in cultural pride and community spirit, Sylvain Parillon—affectionately known to villagers as “Watchie”—was officially honoured by the Cultural Division of Dominica for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Colihaut Bann Mové, the African art form now uniquely practiced in the village of Colihaut.
The award presented by Gizelle Hyacinth on the Division’s behalf, was accompanied by a commemorative plaque and other tokens of appreciation. The event saw strong attendance from Cultural Division staff and some community members. Parillon, a master drummer and traditional craftsperson, is widely celebrated for his artistry in creating the distinctive Bann Mové face masks and ceremonial headpieces known as capot. His commitment to this ancestral art form has been central to keeping it alive for future generations.
To mark the occasion, Sylvain posed for photos flanked by not just one, but three Dominican beauty queens—including the 2025 Carnival Queen—highlighting the national significance of the event. Over the years, Sylvain has taken Colihaut’s vibrant cultural expression beyond Dominica, representing Bann Mové in St. Lucia, Martinique, Antigua, and the United Kingdom. In 2006, he travelled with the Colihaut Bann Mové group to the UK under the invitation of Colihaut in Focus UK. There, the group performed at the Notting Hill Carnival and contributed to the National Colihaut Bann Mové Exhibition hosted by the Newham Council. Sylvain also led creative workshops in Luton’s primary and secondary schools, introducing children to the art of mask and capot making.
Though deeply appreciative of the award, Sylvain remained characteristically humble. He dedicated the recognition to the wider Colihaut community and especially to fellow members of the Bann Mové group. “This award may have my
name on it,” he said, “but it’s really for all of us who have kept this tradition beating. We must not let Bann Mové die.”
This is not Sylvain’s first honour. He was previously recognised for his contribution during the 2007 Colihaut Reunion. His message to the next generation remains powerful: “Learn the drumming. Learn the mask and headgear-making.
This art form can open doors—you never know where it will take you. It took me to the UK, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Martinique.”
The presentation took place before a mural co-created by the late artist Earl Etienne and Colihaut youth during
the 2007 Reunion.
Though now faded, the mural stands as a living reminder of Colihaut’s deep cultural roots and enduring role as the
Dominican custodian of this African retention.
The legacy of Bann Mové also lives on through other cultural media. In 2018, the tradition was brought to screen in Alwin Bully’s film Oseyi and the Masqueraders, shot in Colihaut and centred on the village’s vibrant masquerade culture.
The village’s cultural history has also been documented in the now out-of-print book “Carnival in Dominica-Bann Move’ Masquerade”, published in 2004 and authored by local writer international mathematics educator Ezra Blondel. A much-needed follow-up volume—focusing on villagers’ stories and Bann Mové as a symbol of cultural resistance—is being called for. The community welcomes support from art lovers and cultural allies to bring this next Bann Mové publication to life.
As the echoes of ceremony faded and smiles lingered, the celebration of Sylvain “Watchie” Parillon’s life work served as both tribute and torch—honouring a keeper of tradition and lighting the path forward for the next generation of cultural stewards in Colihaut and beyond.