This week is Dominica’s History Week as the country celebrates its Creole season, leading up to Dominica’s Independence Day on November 3rd.
Dominica’s main National Wear for women is the Wob Dwiyet or the Wob Kweyol. It is a beautiful picture of sophistication, elegance, and charm and an essential part of Dominica’s cultural heritage. It is a product of African and European influence.
Following emancipation, the formerly enslaved Africans began experimenting with various styles and dresses, and out of this experimentation, the Wob Dwiyet emerged, reflecting the African love for bright colours and headties.
The Wob Dwiyet can be worn on formal occasions, and it is made up of a long-sleeved dress worn over a long white petticoat. The lower part of the dress is usually edged with lace, sometimes threaded with baby ribbon.
The Wob Dwiyet also includes a scarf or foulard worn around the neck and shoulders and a headpiece made of madras. The national wear is completed with lots of jewellery.
The main body of the national wear is the long-sleeved dress made of madras or a brightly flowered or designed material. Some gowns can be made out of a plain white fabric or, in some cases, a shiny, attractive fabric.
The petticoat under the dress carries rows of lace at the bottom, which can sometimes be pleated with tiny accordion pleats.
The foulard or scarf around the shoulders is a plain triangle. It is usually made from a satin material, and its colour should match the dress worn. In recent years, we have seen the emergence of the round foulard. However, the traditional foulard for the Wob Dwiyet is the Triangular Foulard.
The headtie, usually worn with the Wob Dwiyet, is the tet allait. It is the headtie with one peak, and it is made out of madras.
The Wob Dwiyet has to be worn with lots of jewellery, including chains, bracelets, and earrings. On her feet, the dwiyet wearer should have on black shoes with a short thick heel.
This National Wear usually makes a striking impression on all who see it. It is indeed a splendid creation of colour and beauty.
The National Cultural Council and the Division of Culture in 1982 started the National Miss Wob Dwiyet Pageant to help promote and preserve the Wob Dwiyet.
