Another year of struggling

If there is a category of professionals that eagerly awaits change, it is that of artists. There «Status of the Artist Act» was voted on July 13, 2023. It was almost a year later, a week before the Budget – May 31, 2024 – that Gaëtan Abel, then president of the National Arts Fund, was appointed part-time president of the «Professional in the Arts Council». Council whose mission is to decide on the status of artists. On Thursday June 6, 2024, literally on the eve of the Budget, the then Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage chaired a first meeting of this Council.… Since then, an improvement in the situation is expected.

Democratic progress

The constitution in “Mauritian Creole”

The translation of five chapters of the Constitution into Morisian Kreol was presented on September 30 at the University of Mauritius. Which demonstrates, according to Arnaud Carpooran, president of the Creole Speaking Union, that this language “has the potential to express legal complexity”. While doing “be very careful not to simplify to the point of distorting the content”. The translation of the Constitution from English to Morisian Kreol respects the format – structure, syntax – of the source document. The translation places the English version next to the Mauritian version, which allows the two texts to be compared. “Most people who read the Constitution in English do not fully understand it. An exercise in reading the Kreol Morisian version aloud provides emotional proximity to the Constitution.indicated Arnaud Carpooran.

The activist. Jasmine Toulouse, with a beating heart

Jasmine Toulouse is an artist, an activist who has become essential. His year has been eventful. Marked by his «sacrifice». Announced as a candidate for the Alliance for Change at No. 1 (Grande-Rivière-Nord-Ouest–Port-Louis-Ouest), she begins to plow the ground. But thanks to the alliance with Rezistans ek Alternativ and the third ticket granted to this party, Jasmine Toulouse gives way to Kugan Parapen. Without any mood swing.

After this choice of candidate, she posted a photo with the leader of the Mauritian Militant Movement, Paul Bérenger. The legend:“We are seeing ‘a way forward’.” It was October 11. Exactly one month before the 60-0 came out of the polls. During the electoral campaign, Jasmine Toulouse was active in the field, notably at No. 14 (Savanne–Rivière-Noire). After her election, Véronique Leu-Govind thanked her “last” Jasmine Toulouse.

To celebrate the victory, we find the artist as co-host of the concert which followed the thank-you meeting of the Alliance for Change, at Place d’Armes. A few weeks later, she “give a hand” to the organization of the Kreol International Festival. Livening up the evening in particular Live our art in front of the Plaza. We remember that on March 26, 2023, the then Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, held up the photo of Jasmine Toulouse, alongside Jean-Hubert Celerine, better known as Franklin – convicted of drug trafficking – in Parliament. Which caused Jasmine Toulouse to lose contracts.

They have left us, the dearly departed

These artists have bowed out over the past year. Clarel Betsy passed away during the night of Monday February 5th to Tuesday February 6th. Clarel Betsy is two hits from the 70s and 80s. The tribute song Little Brother. And the poignancy Mo Amélie. But his discography is much more than that. Clarel Betsy didn’t just sing sega. He played rock, fusion, in French, in Kreol, in English.

On August 31, we learned of the death of bassist Clive Govinden, 46 years old. He died in Los Angeles, where he was on tour. This musician had rubbed shoulders with big names such as Manu Dibango, Oumou Sangaré from Mali, Touré Kunda from Senegal, Dobet Gnahoré from Ivory Coast, as well as Carla Bruni, Martha High (ex-backing vocalist for James Brown).

On September 14, Ramesh Ramdoyal, former director of the Mauritius Institute of Education, died. A man of letters, he leaves us a trilogy: Tales from Mauritius, More tales from Mauritius et Further tales from Mauritius. As well as poems and short stories published in the Collection Maurice.

On November 29, Frédéric Martin, alias Lom Dick, left us. The singer of the group Natir Chamarel left at the age of 50.

The promises

A wave of hopes

The section devoted to culture in the electoral manifesto of the Alliance for Change has aroused a wave of hope. As pointed out by Joëlle Coret, president of the Union of Artists, this document contains “points the artists requested”. While waiting for the keynote speech which will be presented at the start of the school year, the main proposals are an overhaul of the Status of Artist Actfor the recognition of “cultural workers”. The creation of a cultural desk to facilitate obtaining all the authorizations necessary for organizing a concert. Providing young artists with stadiums, multi-purpose rooms and other public locations suitable for artistic events. The construction in Public Private Partnership a concert hall fully equipped for holding artistic events. The transformation of one of the football stadiums into a concert site. Or even the in-depth reform of the Mauritius Society of Authors.

Magical moments, memorable concerts

The Trobador Tour passed through Mauritius on October 19 and 20. A highly applauded return from Francis Cabrel. When the first concert was announced, it was sold out to the point where the organizers added a second date, at the Trianon Convention Center. It had been around ten years since Mario Ramsamy had returned to his native country. He reconnected with the local public during a concert in Casela on September 6.

Cancellations

When the police say no

The organizers of the Marcus Gad concert had to be patient. Initially scheduled for May 4, the evening was canceled at the very last minute when reggaeman Marcus Gad, who comes from New Caledonia, had already landed in Mauritius. The artist, guest of honor at the Jamrock Reggae Festival, was finally able to perform on December 14 at the Bambous stadium.

No Mystik Festival on Saturday December 7 in the ruins of Balaclava, at the Maritim Resort & Spa. The evening with Vini Vici and Omiki, DJs of Israeli origin, who perform at the biggest events like Tomorrowland in Belgium, was canceled. These DJs have already performed without problem in Mauritius before.

However, on December 5, the police gave the green light. Why did the police change their mind the next day? In its official letter, the police commissioner’s office informs the organizer that the authorization is withdrawn «on ground of public safety and public order».

A collective, the Ad hoc committee to support Palestine, led a systematic campaign against this musical evening. This collective brought together trade unionists, members of Lalit, Ledikasyon Pu Travayer, Muvman Liberasyon Fam, the Documentation Center on Islam. For its part, the Muslim Citizens Council also spoke out against this evening, with reference to the alarming humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Morne Mountain

Opening of the Valley of Bones

On May 5, a symbolic route was opened on the Morne mountain, a cultural landscape classified as a world heritage site. This path leads to the Valley of Bones, where according to testimonies, the bodies of brown slaves who had jumped from the top of Morne mountain were found.

It was on July 2, 2008 that the cultural landscape of Le Morne was inscribed on the world heritage list. But it was after tough and long negotiations with private owners that a first free and accessible trail was opened to the public from July 24, 2016.