Creole Encounter Festival Ends with Acclaimed Cocréation Finale
VICTORIA, Seychelles, The Rencontres Créoles des Seychelles ended on a high note after four days of celebration, with the cocréation showcase on Friday evening serving as the climax of the event. The public gathered at the Théâtre National in Mont Fleuri experienced a powerful and emotionally charged moment during the final presentation of this cocréation, which was an 11-minute 30-second piece created by artists from Mauritius, La Réunion, Madagascar, Rodrigues and Seychelles. The cocréation process allowed the visiting artists to share their culture while engaging with local traditions.
Cocréation in music is an essential element of the Rencontres Créoles des Seychelles, providing a platform for artists to share their common Creole culture, their knowledge and their talents. The artistic director of the programme, Ambassador Patrick Victor, said he was impressed by the performance. We must believe in the power of music. Today, we were all united on stage, regardless of whether we came from Mauritius, Rodrigues or Seychelles, said Mr Victor. He noted that the collaboration showed how music can build bridges between the islands of the Indian Ocean.
During the closing evening, the public enjoyed performances by various artists, including Stanley from Seychelles with his piece ‘Bonm’, Vallen Pierre Louis from Rodrigues with his guitar and song ‘Granmoun dokté’, Rajery from Madagascar with a vocal and musical piece on his Valiha instrument, Davy Sicard from La Réunion with his guitar and song ‘Flors kréol’, Eric Triton from Mauritius with a song, Gérard Louis from Mauritius with his song ‘Zistwar nou zanset’, Brian Matbé from Seychelles with a ‘Moutya – Ti Lanbwe’ on his jerrican, and Jean Marc Volcy from Seychelles with his song ‘Vandredi Sen’ accompanied by Belinda and Tania. The programme offered a rich showcase of the diversity of Creole musical expression. Audience members responded with sustained applause, and many lingered long after the final note to exchange impressions with the visiting artists and fellow listeners.
National Assembly member Bernard Georges also expressed his enthusiasm, saying it was thrilling, overwhelming and truly fantastic. He added that he hoped such exchanges would be accessible to the Seychellois public more often. For Davy Sicard, the Reunionese artist, the final version was good but he hoped that future editions would give even more room for the artists to develop their ideas. He noted that the spirit of cocréation is contagious and that the magic emerges when artists leave their differences aside.
For the future, each country must strive to keep the flame alive, and from Rodrigues, La Réunion and Haiti have already expressed interest in hosting the third edition of the event. David André, Secretary General of the National Institute of Seychelles for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, said the cocréation had been contagious and that the magic of such moments is what makes culture so powerful. The success of the Rencontres des Créoles Seychelles now requires follow-up to ensure that Creole culture can be shared with the world, he concluded.
