Roseau
Panorama of Roseau from Cruise ship
Nickname(s): Town
Roseau Roseau
Coordinates: 15°18′05″N 61°23′18″W / 15.301389°N 61.388333°W / 15.301389; -61.388333
Country	Dominica
Parish	Saint George
Government
• Type	Local Government-Roseau City Council est 1890s
• His Worship Mayor	Cecil Joseph
• MP - Roseau Central	Hon. Norris Prevost
Population (2001)
• Total	14,847

Roseau (Kwéyòl: Wozo) is the capital and largest city of Dominica. With a population of 14,847 (2001 census)^[1], it is a small and compact urban settlement, located within the Saint George parish and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Roseau River and Morne Bruce. Built on the site of the ancient Kalinago Indian village of Sairi, it is the oldest and most important urban settlement on the island.

It is located on the west (leeward) coast of Dominica, and is a combination of modern and colonial (French Style) architecture.

Roseau is Dominica's most important port for foreign trade. Some exports include bananas, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges and cocoa. The service sector is also a large part of the local economy.

There is a prominent diocese called Roman Catholic Diocese of Roseau.

History[link]

Aerial photo of Roseau

The city of Roseau sits on an alluvial fan formed hundreds of years ago as the river after which it was named meandered across the area from what is now known as Newtown to its current location. Over the last two thousand years Amerindians migrating through the islands settled the area attracted by the nearby river. With the arrival of the Europeans on the island in the 16th and 17th centuries, a small settlement was established by the French who in their tradition of naming places after what they found there named the settlement with their name for the river reeds which grew along the river banks. A plan was created for the settlement which mirrored examples in France where streets extended from a central point at what is today the Old Market and extended out to the rest of the settlement.

Conflict raged between the French and the British over the area on several occasions. Finally the British gained a stronghold and by the late 18th and early 19th centuries set out plans for the city which included fortifications and government structures, the grid road street system and blocks and new urban areas to the north and south known today as Potter's Ville and Newtown. Goodwill was established in the 1950s and Bath Estate in the early 1980s. Since then several new semi-urban settlements — such as Stock Farm, Castle Comfort and Wall House — have been constructed around the existing ones. Some older settlements like Fond Cole and Canefield nowadays belong also to the semi-urban area that lies around Roseau.

The French influence can still be seen today, however, in its architecture, and crooked streets which extend from the Old Market Plaza. Examples of the English influence is also evident in architecture and street names.^[2]

Climate and scenery[link]

Roseau's Bay Front area

Roseau's nearby scenery (mostly in its so-called valley) includes Boiling Lake, 10.5 km east, in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, waterfalls, thermal springs, and scenic plateaus.

Morne Bruce provides panoramic views of most of downtown Roseau and northwards toward Woodbridge Bay deepwater port and Fond Cole. From Morne Bruce there are also views of the Botanic Garderns at its base as well as the Caribbean Sea which look quite spectacular on cruise ship days when several cruise liners are in port.

Roseau climate is transitional between a tropical rainforest climate and a tropical monsoon climate. Common to cities with a these two climate types, Roseau features relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the year with average high temperatures generally between 29 and 32°C and average low temperatures between 19 and 23°C. Rainfall is common throughout the course of the year, with the city seeing on average nearly 2 meters of rain per year. Roseau features a noticeably drier stretch from February through April, though each of these months on average still sees at least 60 mm of precipitation.

Architecture[link]

The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city are giving way to office space. The district is, however, framed in every direction by natural elements. The sea and the river provide water element while the Botanical Gardens and the Government House gardens frame the city with green space. Both these elements are rare in the Caribbean. No other centre in the region has such extensive botanical gardens with such central location, and the Roseau River is amongst the largest rivers that flow through any Caribbean capital.

The urban structure of Central Roseau is based on an irregular grid system of miniature proportions, making it a highly illegible city. Even though the grid area is not very extensive, it is relatively easy for a visitor to get lost there. The grid area has some 80 blocks in the area of 30 hectares (74 acres). In comparison, the grid areas of Kingstown and Castries — capitals of Saint Vincent and Saint Lucia — have some 50 and 60 blocks in the areas of over 40 ha (99 acre). The average block size in Central Roseau is thus some ⅓ hectare (1 acre), i.e. about half of the figure of Central Kingstown.

There are some fine examples of West Indian architecture in Roseau. The ones that stand out the most are the French Colonial style and the vernacular form. Much of the French influence can be found along King George V Street. Around the city you will come across some good examples of the English influence in the form of large colonial town houses and colonial public/government buildings.

Roseau's French Quarter

The churches in Roseau are fine examples of Europe in Dominica with a bit of creolisation. The Roman Catholic Cathedral stands prominent in Gothic Romanesque revival and the Anglican Church on Victoria Street in Georgian style. Amongst these buildings you will find much of the urban vernacular squeezed in between larger colonial and more modern buildings.

City life[link]

Video showing activity at Farmers Market in downtown Roseau, from here

Because of the suburban sprawl, few people live in Central Roseau, but more of them commute daily. Motorised vehicles pour into the central district thus introducing a mode of point-to-point interaction in an environment that was created for multiple use. As elders said, first there were no streets but just a space between the buildings. The streets of Roseau, and especially those of its central district, are not only ways to move from place to place but they are places themselves. They are used as gardens, playing fields and social meeting places.

Street scene in Roseau

The Botanical Gardens on the fringes of the central district are mostly used by children.

Sports and recreation[link]

Within the city of Roseau, there are many opportunities for recreation. Many persons seek out the tranquility and cool of the Botanical Gardens as a getaway on Sunday afternoons and at lunch. As well, it is a popular venue for local cricket matches and sports training. Football is a popular sport; there are several pitches throughout the city area (at Newtown, Potters Ville, and Bath Estate), as well as in the sports stadium at Windsor Park.

Windsor Park

Sporting facilities and infrastructure[link]

There are dedicated sports facilities around the city. Private tennis courts are located on High Street; netball and basketball courts also abound in the city's major high schools. These are complemented by community facilities at Goodwill. A dedicated netball and basketball stadium is located at Stockfarm near the Dominica State College.

In 2007, Windsor Park, also home to the Dominica national football team, was completed with a donation of EC$33 million from the government of the People's Republic of China.

Elsewhere in the city it is not uncommon to find that a section of the street, sidewalk or even the beach has been adapted to makeshift games of cricket or football.

Popular sports include netball, basketball, rounders and (to a much lesser extent) tennis.

Accommodations and Infrastructure[link]

There are no world famous hotel chains in the city. The most famous hotel is the Fort Young Hotel.^[4] In addition there are several small family owned establishments within and on the outskirts of the city.

Dominica Broadcasting Corporation, the national radio station, and two other private radio stations are located in the capital.

Non Governmental Organizations[link]

Roseau is home to service clubs including, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions. There are other organisations such as the local humane society and conservation society. ChildFund International USA has an office in Roseau from where it runs its child centred development programs for Dominica and Saint Vincent.

The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce, Waitukubuli Eccological Foundation, Dominica Tourism Association and others are based in the city.

The city is also home to several labour organisations including the Dominica Amalgamated Workers' Union, the Dominica Public Service Union, the Dominica Trade Union, the National Workers' Union and the Waterfront and Allied Workers' Union

Communication[link]

As the most important town on the island and hub of all business activity, the city is a central point of the road networks on the island. It is an important link between northern, eastern, and southern bound traffic. As a result its streets are frequently clogged with busy workers, shoppers and schoolchildren. When there is a cruiseship in port, many are amazed at how the narrow streets of the town accommodate the needs of all these users.

The city is also served by a nearby small aircraft airport which provides direct link to the nearby islands as well as occasionally to the larger Melville hall airport to the north. The ferry terminal provides direct link to the neighbouring Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique and St. Lucia to the south.

There are no rail or subway systems.

Education[link]

Roseau has been the historical centre of education on the island. There are six secondary schools located in the city as well as eight primary schools. A community college - The Dominica State College is also located in Roseau. A private medical school, All Saints School of Medicine, also calls Roseau home.

Embassies and consulates[link]

Several embassies are also located in the city. Among them include the Brazilian Embassy, the Chinese, the Cuban embassy, and the Venezuelan Embassy, with a couple of other consulates located around the city.

Notable people[link]

• Dominica's most famous writer and novelist, Jean Rhys, was born in Roseau on August 24, 1894
• NBA basketball player Garth Joseph was born in the town on August 8, 1973.
• Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, former Prime Minister and first woman prime minister in the Caribbean. Was instrumental in the Development of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and in the US invasion of Grenada in the 1980s.
• Gordon Henderson of the Cadence-Lypso Band Exile One.
• Henry Wilcoxon, film actor, was born in Roseau in 1905.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Roseau Cathedral

• 

  Roseau In the Morning

• 

  Roseau In the Morning 2

See also[link]

• Canefield Airport

References[link]

External links[link]

• Media related to Roseau at Wikimedia Commons
• Commonwealth of Dominica Reunion 2008
• Roseau Photo Gallery
• Photo slideshow and travelogue from Roseau

v t e Settlements in Dominica For the definition of town, village, etc see Settlements in Dominica. Towns Atkinson  · Berekua (Grand Bay) · Calibishie · Canefield · Castle Bruce · Grand-Anse (Portsmouth) · Grand Bay (Berekua) · La Plaine · La Soie (Wesley) · Mahaut · Marigot · Pointe Michel · Portsmouth (Grand-Anse) · Rosalie · Roseau (Capital) · Saint Joseph · Salisbury (Barroui) · Soufrière · Wesley (La Soie) · Woodford Hill Villages Anse du Mé · Bagatelle · Bataka · Belles · Bellevue Chopin · Bense · Bioche · Boetica · Bornes · Campbell · Capucin · Castle Comfort · Clifton · Colihaut · Cottage · Coulibistrie · Delices · Dublanc · Dubuc · Eggleston · Fond Cani · Fond St. Jean · Galion · Giraudel · Good Hope · Grand Fond · Hampstead · Laudat · Layou · Loubiere · Massacre · Mero · Morne Daniel · Morne Prosper · Paix Bouche · Penville · Petite Savanne · Petit Soufrière · Pichelin · Pont Cassé · Saint Sauveur · Salybia · Scotts Head · Stowe · Tanetane · Tarou · Thibaud · Toucari · Trafalgar · Vieille Case · Wotten Waven

Coordinates: 15°18′05″N 61°23′18″W / 15.30139°N 61.38833°W / 15.30139; -61.38833

Koffi Olomide
Background information
Birth name	Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba
Also known as	Koffi
Born	(1956-08-13) 13 August 1956 (age 55)
Genres	Soukous/Tcha Tcho
Occupations	composer, arranger, producer, singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1978 - Present
Associated acts	Quartier Latin

Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide (Friday, August 13, 1956), is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases.^[1]

Background[link]

He was born in Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father is Congolese (Gbandi tribe from Equateur region) and his mother was born from a Sierra-Leone father and a Congolese mother (Songye tribe from Kasaï region). According to the ethnic custom of his Sierra-Leone grand father, his mother named him 'Koffi' because he was born on a Friday ^[2]. Koffi grew up in the city of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a middle-class family, where education was valued.

Education[link]

He was a very bright student. He earned a scholarship and went to study in Bordeaux, France where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Economics. He is also reported to hold a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Paris.^[3]

Music career[link]

Upon his return to Congo in the 1970s he joined Papa Wemba's band, Viva la Musica, at first as a composer and song-writer, and later as a vocalist and lead-singer. He launched his solo career. In 1986, Koffi formed his band known as Quartier Latin, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2006. Since then, he has performed and recorded both with the group and by himself. Over the years, he has built up a faithful fan base Internationally, particularly in Africa and Europe. Koffi popularized the slower style of soukous, which he dubbed Tcha Tcho. Koffi's music can be quite controversial, taking on current events and topics considered taboo in some conservative societies. He has also participated in the salsa music project Africando. For his effort, Affaire D'Etat, released in 2003, Koffi received four Kora Awards on a single night at the annual Kora Awards in South Africa for 2002/2003, including the award for Best African Artist, which he had earlier won in 1998. More recently, he has won the Kora Award for "Best African Artist of The Decade". This led to the establishment of one of his many aliases as the 'Quadra Kora Man'. ^[4]

His music[link]

Olomide's album Haut de Gamme: Koweït, Rive Gauche is listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[5] In March 2003 Olomide released "Affaire D'Etat", a double CD album featuring 18 tracks.

He has trained many young musicians some of whom have since left his Quartier Latin band and gone solo while a few are still sticking with him. Some of those who have left are Fele Mudogo, Sam Tshintu, Suzuki 4x4, Soleil Wanga, Fally Ipupa, Montana Kamenga, Ferre Gola and are so far doing fairly well on their own. However "Suzuki 4x4" has recently showed up once more in some of Quartier Latin shows, along with new recruits like Cindy le Coeur, a female singer with very high pitched vocals.

Koffi, who mostly refers to himself as Mopao, has a brand new release known as La Chicotte a Papa, having recently excelled in hits like Cle Boa, Lovemycine, Diabolos, Grand Pretre Mere and Soupou, among others. Mopao has also proven to be of such very high standards of talent which could easily be compared to the once king of African rhumba the late Luambo Makiadi, who equally saw many artistes pass through his expert hands during his days. Today, Mopao is the undisputed king of romantic rhumba. Not only that, he is one of Africa's biggest musicians today.^[6]

Personal[link]

Koffi Olomide is reported to be very intelligent and wealthy. He is married and is the father of seven (7) children:Nzau Twengi Aristote, Elvis, Minou Miss Univers, Didi Stone Nike, Rocky, Del pirlo Mourhino and Saint James Rolls. Olomide's father, who is currently in poor health, lives in Paris, France. Olomide's mother lives in Kinshasa and works as a jewellery dealer in the Zando Market in the city. Koffi has an elder brother, Johnny Ko, who also lives in Paris. Also a younger brother Tutu Roba, who lives in London, England.^[7]

Photos[link]

• Koffi Olomide With Some of His Female Dancers

References[link]

External links[link]

• Fan-site with history and discography link

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012)

Les Cowboys Fringants
Les Cowboys Fringants in 2007
Background information
Origin	Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Folk rock
Years active	1997 (1997)–present
Website	cowboysfringants.com
Members
Karl Tremblay Jean-François Pauzé Marie-Annick Lépine Jérôme Dupras Simon Landry
Past members
Dominique Lebeau

Les Cowboys Fringants (English: The Frisky Cowboys) are a Canadian folk rock music group formed in 1997 in Repentigny.

They are a popular band and cult phenomenon from Quebec, who perform Québécois néo-trad music (modernized Quebec folk music with a rock flavour), the band also draws on Country music. They have gained an international underground following, especially in France, French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland. There is even a group of French fans called Les Cousins Fringants (a take on the expression cousin that the French use to affectionately call French Canadians). They hail from the Montreal suburb of Repentigny and L'Assomption. The entire band collaborates on the lyrics, although guitarist Jean-François Pauzé often contributes more than the others. The fundamental aspect of the band are their explosive live performances, captured on the Attache ta tuque live album and the Centre Bell 30 décembre 2003 DVD.

Overview[link]

Les Cowboys represent an important part of modern Québécois music. They are part of the néo-trad movement that appeared in Quebec around the turn of the 21st century, and they embody a resurgence of political songwriting (after the drought of the 1980s and parts of the 1990s, political songwriting had been a victim of Post-Referendum Syndrome). As the néo-trad movement adapts Quebec folklore into contemporary crafts, the political message of the band is a re-occurrence of 1970s chansonnier activist messages of left-wing solidarity and, recently, sovereignism, although in a more distinctly modern way. They also sometimes adopt a minimalist & dadaesque style, a trend of the Quebec music scene of the 2000s - a decade of voluntary simple yet nonetheless quite intelligent and Joual lyrics, therefore subversive and akin to a sort of lyrical naïve art. (The 1970s did see the first wave of voluntary Joual art, like the songs of Robert Charlebois and Aut'chose, and the plays of Michel Tremblay, although not as willingly exaggerated. This is present even more so in the music of Les Trois Accords, Les Denis Drolet, Daniel Boucher, or in "Pépé et sa Guitare"'s (Pépé and his Guitar) song Carole).

The usual subject matter of the group includes: environmentalism, poverty, anguish and family troubles, as well as the denouncing of consumerism, exploitation, state-controlled gambling, cynical government attitude and political apathy. While some of those subjects are serious in appearance, they are often treated in a light manner, sometimes even in a fun, amusing and ironic way. The band also deals with themes of Quebec history, Quebec independence, suburban life, childhood and adolescence, kitsch, relationships and sports. Their songwriting is renowned for having woven an elaborate tapestry of fictional characters with interpersonal relationships, and sometimes a number of these characters appear in more than one song. Much like their writing, the clothes of the male members of the band are quite unique, sometimes purposely normal or kitsch and something of a postmodern, second degree artistic statement. Fans have followed the trend by wearing the equally kitsch t-shirts and other official clothing, with the group logo.

The band themselves are noted fans of Passe-Partout composer Pierre F. Brault and have performed shows in his honour. They have also been influenced by French singer Renaud, and his songs with political messages and local popular language (for Renaud, the French argot).

Many of the idiosyncrasies of their music stem from Marie-Annick Lépine, a versatile musician, who makes the band line up distinct from the conventional guitar-bass-drums-singer. Her talents contribute to the vivacious sounds of instruments like the violin, mandolin and accordion. She has also worked on the Dumas album Le cours des jours.

The band went on tour in summer of 2011, visiting cities in Quebec, France and Switzerland.

Members[link]

• Karl Tremblay (vocals)
• Jean-François "J-F" Pauzé (rhythm guitar)
• Nic Cartwright "Cartwright" (lead guitar)
• Marie-Annick Lépine (violin, mandolin, accordion, piano, banjo etc.)
• Jérôme Dupras (bass guitar, double bass)

Previous members:

• Dominique "Domlebo" Lebeau (drums) - Left the group on August 22, 2007, citing personal reasons.

Discography[link]

• 1997 12 Grandes chansons
• 1998 Sur mon canapé
• 2000 Motel Capri (listen) (April 4, 2000)
• 2001 Enfin Réunis (12 grandes chansons + Sur Mon Canapé) - (November 20, 2001) - (listen)
• 2002 Break syndical - (March 5, 2002) - (listen)
• 2003 Attache ta tuque! - (May 13, 2003; live album) - (listen)
• 2004 La Grand Messe - (November 23, 2004) - (listen)
• 2007 Au Grand Théâtre de Québec - (2007; live album)
• 2008 L'expédition - (September 23, 2008)
• 2008 Sur un air de déjà vu - (October 14, 2008)
• 2010 En concert au Zénith de Paris - (2010; live album)
• 2011 Que du vent - (November 14, 2011)

Filmography[link]

• 2004 Centre Bell 30 décembre 2003 - (April 13, 2004)

See also[link]

• Néo-trad
• List of bands from Canada
• Music of Canada
• Music of Quebec

External links[link]

• (in French) Les Cowboys Fringants Official site

Dustin Byfuglien
Dustin Byfuglien at Winnipeg Jets training camp
Born	(1985-03-27) March 27, 1985 (age 27) Minneapolis, MN, USA
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight	265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb)
Position	Defense/Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Winnipeg Jets Chicago Blackhawks Atlanta Thrashers
NHL Draft	245th overall, 2003 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2005–present

Dustin Ray Byfuglien ( /baɪfuːɡliən/ by-FOO-glee-ən or local /ˈbʌflɨn/ BUF-lin;^[1] born March 27, 1985) is an American professional ice hockey player and an alternate captain of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. His known nickname is "Big Buff," made up by his teammates. Drafted as a defenseman, he has played both forward and defense in his career.

Personal life[link]

Byfuglien was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Cheryl Byfuglien and father Ricky Spencer. His mother is of Norwegian descent, and his father is African American. Cheryl moved to Roseau, Minnesota, with Dustin to be closer to her family while Ricky stayed in Minneapolis to continue college; the two never wed. In Roseau, Byfuglien was exposed to the game of hockey where he found an instant love for the sport, which soon turned into a calling. Byfuglien's stepfather, Dale Smedsmo, played four games in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1972, and 110 games in the World Hockey Association.^[1][2] Byfuglien has three half-siblings on his father's side.

Due to academic ineligibility in Roseau, Byfuglien first moved to Warrenville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to play AAA under-18 hockey for the Chicago Mission then moved to Canada in hopes of not ruining any chance he could possibly have at playing hockey. In Canada, he played major junior hockey in the WHL. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in 2003.

Byfuglien is an avid fisherman, and competed in the 2011 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship on Rainy Lake.

On August 31, 2011, Byfuglien was arrested on Lake Minnetonka and booked on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.^[3]

Byfuglien and his long-time girlfriend, Emily Hendry, welcomed their first child, Kira Rae Byfuglien, on December 28, 2011.^[4]

Playing career[link]

Byfuglien while a member of the Atlanta Thrashers

Byfuglien while a member of the Chicago Blackhawks

Originally a defenseman at the start of the 2007–08 season, he was moved to a right wing position to give the team a larger body near the net, an experiment that proved successful. In the 2010-2011 All-Star Game's Skill Competition his slap shot was clocked at 102.5 mph.

The forward excelled in his third professional season, becoming the first Rockford IceHogs player to earn the American Hockey League's Player of the Week award, when he scored one goal and had five assists in four games. Byfuglien had seven points in eight games with Rockford. Byfuglien earned a recall on November 3 to the Chicago Blackhawks and never returned to the IceHogs. He had a goal in his first shift with the Blackhawks in the 2007–08 NHL season on November 3 against the St. Louis Blues and recorded his first career hat trick (three goals in one game) against the Phoenix Coyotes on November 30. He finished tied for fifth on the team with 19 goals and 36 points in his third season with the team, all while making a transition to forward throughout the campaign.

On June 24, 2010, Byfuglien was traded by Chicago, along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Akim Aliu to the Atlanta Thrashers for a 1st and 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin.^[5] The Thrashers moved Byfuglien back to his natural position of defense, although he had experience as a first-line and second-line winger with the Blackhawks, including the Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup in 2010. He became an alternate captain for the Thrashers after a few months into the 2010 season. Byfuglien was selected to his first All-Star Game, along with teammate Tobias Enström. On February 15, 2011, the Thrashers signed Byfuglien to a five-year, $26 million dollar contract extension.

Career statistics[link]

Regular season and playoffs[link]

Awards and achievements[link]

-* injury prevented attendance

See also[link]

• List of family relations in the NHL

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dustin Byfuglien

• Dustin Byfuglien's NHL player profile
• Dustin Byfuglien's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Hockey's Future prospect profile
• Dustin Byfuglien Minor Hockey Goal Mix Video
• A long road from Roseau to success
• Before Hawks star hit it big, he got his start in DuPage
• Hundreds greet Dustin Byfuglien, Stanley Cup
• Dustin Byfuglien Is Large And In Trouble