Feb 3/08
Mauritius Week… maybe
You may have already heard a few tracks from Réunion, Rodrigues and other Indian Ocean hot spots on Benn loxo, but never Mauritius.
During Eritrea week Benn loxo listener, DJ Earball, suggested we have a Mauritius week here at Benn loxo. I think he was probably joking, but I’m always up for a challenge.
Finding (good) sega and seggae, two forms of music very popular in Mauritius, is difficult. I’ve been trying to find a recording by Ti Frère, the supposed “king of sega”, but it’s sold-out everywhere online that will take a French credit card and I’m not sure where to look in Paris. I’ll keep digging…
The multitude of seggae and sega moderne mixes out there, most often on casettes or CDs most likely made-up of pirated music, are a mixed bag to say the least. I need some guidance and some more time to dig through and find some gems. I think I’ve found a spot to buy some music by Kaya (Joseph Reginald Topize), the creator of seggae, plus some other Mauritian musicians so stay posted.
To kick things off on what may or may not be Mauritius week we’re going to hear some music by Menwar. His 2006 release of jazzed-up sega, Ay ay lolo, was recorded in Mauritius. It’s not something I’d listen to every day but it’s easy on the ears and certainely a good place to start before we move into more obscure corners of sega… if we can get there.
Menwar comes from the minority creole population on Mauritius. It seems that Mauritian creole music dominates the market, at least when briefly explored from outside the country. Sega, while not originally from Mauritius, is the musical root that other genres have grown from, most notably seggae. But more on that later.
You can find Menwar’s album on Calabash. You can also check-out a good reportage on Menwar and his music posted by Trace TV over at YouTube (in French).
ps- I’ve been traveling this week and next so my reluctance to commit to Mauritius week is admittedly due to work at the moment. If anyone knows any good Mauritian record shops in Vienna I’m all ears!
Tags: mauritius, sega
Matt — Maybe I was joking a bit. Or maybe issuing a challenge to you and your other readers. I’ve had a small fascination with Mauritius since long ago writing a school paper on the place. Menwar is one of the two island musicians I’m familiar with — and I think I like this CD slightly more than you. The other artist I’ve run across is Alain Ramanisum. But besides that, I’m in the dark and awaiting enlightenment. Thanks for being willing (maybe) to take up this challenge!
wow, what a great track. i look forward to hearing more.
Wonderful track! I think I enjoy it even more than the two Kaya tracks. Does anyone know what the cool-sounding instrument in the beginning of the song is? Some kind of thumb piano perhaps? I’d love to know.