Africa-Press – Seychelles. It is Roland Madeleine with his song ‘Dife Kreol’ that won the Creole singing competition launched in August this year by the Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA) in collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Crafts, as part of the Creole Festival.
Accompanied by his fellow drummer, Maxime Toussaint, Mr. Madeleine gave a performance of his chanson, which included a special song for this festival; In fact, everything that the organizer was doing was based on the Creole language and the use of only traditional instruments, with his mutia drum.
It was the President of the Republic, Wavel Ramkalawan, who presented him with his prize in a ‘People’s Show’ ceremony at the International Conference Center (ICCS) last night.
In an interview with the Seychelles NATION newspaper, the resident of Grand Anse Mahé expressed his satisfaction for this recognition.
He says that he had no intention of taking part in the competition, but rather his music producer, Darren Bonnelame, who knows his work, encouraged him to take part.
Mr. Madeleine says that his song “Creole Fire” tells a story, a typical day of long Creole life, which begins with a good morning and the sun rises, the smell of citronelle, the man who is going to shoot his bell in the morning, health, and The cloth that blows to announce the arrival of the morning sun, and this makes it realize the Creole fire, which no one will be able to extinguish.
“I really didn’t expect (to win first prize) but I’m just happy. I always wanted to make my Grand Anse Mahé district proud, and today I got to do it,” he said.
This 60-year-old artist, who has been performing since he was very young, says that his dream for Seychelles is that mutia really has its rightful place. He says that even with recognition at the international level by UNESCO, it is sad where Mutia is today.
“I’m sad vis a vis mutya. We talk about each other but we are not doing each other, and this makes me very sad. I hope we can show our youth. Fodre us sit, cost, and show them how to do the real thing,” Mr. Madeleine said.
His colleague, Mr. Toussaint, also said that he is proud to perform in front of a crowd that really appreciates this song and their music.
In second place was Phillip Toussaint with the song ‘100%’, and the third prize went to Rico Padayachy and Jean-Yves Accouche, with ‘Kiltir Kreol’.
This competition was held on a professional and semi-professional basis, and was open to everyone, precisely in order to be able to show their talent, according to the organizer.
The executive director of CSA, Emmanuel D’Offay, says that for the beginning they appreciate the interest shown where there are twenty who initially approached, even if only ten who presented their sense.
He says that it is normal when it starts because there is this concern, but they appreciate that people are brave enough to come forward.
Mr. D’Offay thanked all the participants and said that the evening was a success, where we saw different types of performances and where they achieved the objective of demonstrating the Creole language in another form of music and beyond.
“One good thing that came out of it is that it was a ‘class’ night, you see the relief, where young and old people are performing, and this is very interesting and encouraging.”
Mr. D’Offay added that next year they will explore other possibilities, precisely to continue raising the level of this competition.
The singing competition was coordinated by artistic director Jany de Letourdie and Bennet Acouche and during yesterday’s ceremony there were also performances and singing by local artists and special guests, Natacha Tortillard and her group from La Reunion. They were also presented with a certificate.
Our selection of portraits shows some of the best moments of the night.
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