Writer of Creole national anthem reflects on its origins, significance

Concerned that large numbers of Saint Lucians could not fully grasp the English lyrics of the national anthem, Wulstan Charles set out in 2009 to produce an official Creole translation.

At the time, Charles was a Seventh-day Adventist Church Minister, a role he still holds. Before entering ministry, he taught and later became principal of the Saint Lucia Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Academy.

Growing up in several communities across the island, Charles recalled the literacy experiences that first opened his eyes. 

“I became sensitive to the needs of people who are not very literate,” he told St Lucia Times. “Somebody who is very conversant with their Kweyol and is fluent in it may not be able to write it but I would consider that person to be literate where the language is concerned.”

He remembered that many church members used to walk long distances in difficult weather just to have their lesson explained by someone who could understand Kweyol clearly.

In 2007, as his friend Ernest Ottley, alongside others, were establishing a radio station called Praize FM, Charles was invited to help identify what was missing from local radio offerings. This led to the creation of the bilingual programme Your Lesson for Today, which he still hosts.

“It is bilingual. It is done in Kweyol and it is in English,” he noted, expressing how it grew directly out of his passion for helping those who struggled to understand Kweyol. 

That same concern led him to consider the national anthem itself and what it meant for national identity. Charles believed that too many Saint Lucians lacked a full understanding of the anthem’s meaning. “A significant percentage of the population should not be wondering what the national anthem really is,” he said. Providing a Kweyol translation, he felt, would “clarify meaning” and ensure that no citizen was left behind.

In 2016, he presented his translation to the Folk Research Centre (FRC), where he still serves on the Kweyol Literacy Committee. The FRC subsequently submitted the work to Cabinet, and the Government appointed a committee, chaired by former Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy, to review and edit the translation. After its approval, it officially became the Kweyol national anthem of Saint Lucia.

Last weekend, the anthem was performed at the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) “Thank You” rally and recently done by a school choir. When asked how he felt knowing people are performing the rendition, Charles described the moment as part of a wider national effort, noting that the Kweyol version is occasionally sung at different events. “The way I look at it, nation-building is a collective effort,” he said.

 He added that every individual’s contribution matters, explaining, “Each person’s role is significant and collectively what we contribute makes all of the difference when we look at the big picture.”

Charles noted that writing in Kweyol is about embracing identity and purpose. “Sometimes when I write poetry in Kweyol, it’s the same thing. I know everybody cannot write poetry in the language but I thank God for blessing the capacity,” he said. 

Whether through the anthem, poetry, or radio programme, he sees his work as part of an ongoing conversation about defining who Saint Lucians are as a people.

His translation, now sung proudly across the island, stands as a testament to that belief.

ByJosiah St. Luce

Writer of Saint Lucia’s official Kweyol translation of the national anthem, Wulstan Charles. (Photo Credit: Wulstan Charles)