Sega (genre)
Sega (French: Séga) is one of the major music genres of Mauritius and Réunion. It is a complete performance art, involving music, story-telling and traditional dance. Musically, the most modern forms common in Mauritius are its fusion genre Seggae and bhojpuri variations, whilst in Réunion we find the addition of maloya, the latter being much closer to the older, typical music influences originating from Madagascar. The variety of different sega forms is reflected in the multi-ethnic populous of the indigenous population of Mauritius.
For the video game company, see Sega.Sega (Folkloric Performance Art)
African music (most notable Malagasy music) and Mozambique
Performing arts (music, dance)
Performing arts (music, dance)
Worldwide
2019 (14th session)
Representative
Sega (Traditional Mauritian Sega, Sega tambour Chagos, Sega tambour of Rodrigues Island) have been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
Sega has its roots in the music of slaves as well as their descendants Mauritian Creole people and is usually sung in Mauritian Creole or Réunionese Creole. Sega is also popular on the islands of Agaléga and Rodrigues as well as Seychelles, though the music and dances differ and it is sung in these islands' respective creole languages. In the past, Sega music focused on traditional percussion instruments such as the ravanne and the triangle, it was sung to protest against injustices in the Mauritian society, this particular version of Sega is known as Santé engagé.
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
Sega music originated among the slave populations of Mauritius and Réunion and later spread throughout the Seychelles. It is usually in 6/8 meter and has an associated dance form.[8]
Sega's exact origins outside the islands are unknown.[9] However, it is understood to have Afro-Malagasy roots and be a fusion of African or Malagasy music with European music.[9] The European influence includes folk dance music like polka, waltz and quadrilles.[3]
Gatan Benoit suggested that sega came from Madagascar and Boswell notes there may be a link between sega and famadihana, a Merina death ritual.[2] Arago instead identifies it with (t)chéga from Mozambique.[2] He states that it is similar to the fandango and chica (dance) from Brazil whose origins are in African music from Mozambique and Angola.[2] It was termed "African" by sega musician Jacques Cantin.[9]
Place in society[edit]
Historically, Sega was looked down upon because it was the music of slaves.[10] It was also looked down upon by the Catholic Church, which was not keen on its association with sexuality and alcohol.[11]
Until the Mauritian artist Ti Frère became popular in the 1960s, sega was only played in private places.[2] A particularly big turning point was his performance at the Night of the Sega at Mount Le Morne on 30 October 1964.[10] It is now considered the national music of Mauritius and not restricted by ethnicity.[10]