VICTORIA, Seychelles — Norville Ernesta, the popular local singer and songwriter of traditional music, passed away on Saturday at the age of 63. Mr Ernesta has left an indelible mark on the country’s traditional musical journey, with famous tunes such as Madelenn, Lorennza, Tinge, Mon Zil Natal, Lari Bazar, Dibwa Pwent, Dousman Miyonn, and Aife dan Pannyen. Born and raised on the island of La Digue, Norville Ernesta was deeply connected to the rich cultural heritage of Seychellois music, especially moutya and tinge, among others.
Mr Ernesta was also a gifted musician, entertaining tourists and locals with his music, songs, and unique voice. In a post on social media, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage, and the Arts described the veteran musician as an epitome of our traditional music, adding that Mr Norville Ernesta’s passing is a great loss to the Seychellois musical scene. The institute said every time the country loses an artist, a part of the country’s history is gone.
Ambassador Patrick Victor shared that the passing of Mr Ernesta is an immense loss for the country, noting that he contributed so much towards preserving traditional music. Mr Ernesta was one of the people who carried the flame of the country’s traditional music, and he contributed a lot to promoting it. In an interview in September 2017, when he launched his compilation of 14 songs, Mr Ernesta himself said moutya is the culture of the Seychellois people.
When you talk about Seychellois culture, the first thing that comes to mind is moutya, and this is why his album is titled Nou Kiltir. His inspiration is Seychelles, the culture, and the way of life. Back in his younger days, moutya was popular, but it is slowly becoming less popular, especially with the younger generation. Nou Kiltir was Mr Ernesta’s eighth studio album, and he began making music at the age of 18, then took a hiatus to focus on his family life and career.
However, he made a comeback in the 1990s and became a staple in the moutya genre. At the 2017 Airtel Music Awards, Norville Ernesta clinched the best traditional song award with his song Lari Bazar. He also got the opportunity to pass on his skills and knowledge to some children through music workshops. As the country mourns the loss of Norville Ernesta, his music on various platforms allows the country to celebrate his life and the profound impact he had on the Seychellois culture.
