Giandev Moteea : “It’s vital to instil mutual respect and unity in diversity in our youth, who are exposed to all sorts of toxic information”

As part of the lead-up to the African Asia Pacific Choir Games 2025 (AAPCG 2025) and the Grand Prix of Nations, the Local Organising Committee of the International Choir Council 2025 (LOCICC2025) launched the national competition “Fresco 2025” for secondary schools. Designed as a creative platform for youth, the competition invites secondary school students to celebrate the core values of choral culture—sharing and harmony—through the expressive medium of fresco painting. The competition will be taking place from 27th September to 5th October.  Mr. Giandev Moteea, OSK, President of the Local Organising Committee for the Intercontinental Choir Games 2025 (LOCICC2025), speaks to News on Sunday about the significance of this initiative. He also highlights how the project aims to instil and reinforce key values among students.

In the run up to the African Asia Pacific Choir Games 2025 (AAPCG 2025) and Grand Prix of Nations, the Local Organising Committee of the International Choir Council 2025 (LOCICC2025) launched of the national competition “Fresco 2025” for secondary schools. How did the idea of a national competition for secondary school students spring up?
The Fresco competition formed part of our PR Strategies where engaging the youths is a major component. With an event of the calibre of Choir Games across the two continents, African Asia Pacific Choir Competitions to be held in our country (27th September to 5th October), it was necessary to create awareness among the population and the student segment. So, that’s the idea of opting the Fresco Competition among the secondary schools whereby the winners will have the opportunity to wall paint the Frescoes across different regions.

The competition invites students to translate, through fresco painting, the values of sharing and harmony carried through choral culture. How does this competition aim at strengthening certain values in our students? 
The Choir competition is more than a competition: it brings out the full power and reach of music: harmony, inter-cultural meets, respect, discipline, sharing of mutual values and exposing our own diversified cultures-music, dance, food, and others as well as our own concept of unity in diversity. 

Hosting such events will promote our country touristic attraction towards diverse segments of tourists and cultural tourism attract people from far across the world to travel and attend"

The national fresco competition will be held under the evocative theme, “Sing in Paradise.” Why this specific theme?
The theme was selected by InterKultur the major Partner of Government, based in Germany and who has selected Mauritius to host these Choir Games. The Mauritian environment with its diverse cultures and islander perspectives apart from its high touristic potentialities-beautiful beaches, turquoise lagoons and other attractions, have contributed to inspire this renowned organisation which holds such events around the world over last 30 years.
 
The competition also aims to celebrate cultural diversity. In a country like Mauritius, why do you believe its key to teach students the values of mutual understanding and respect and unity in diversity?
These values you mentioned are of utmost importance to inculcate in our youths who are bombarded by all sorts of toxic information available freely. Hence there should be a counter balance by soliciting efforts to invest in events and exercises which can promote such values as respect of different cultures. Such activities towards students will confirm our notion of rainbow nation with natural beauty and diverse cultural background, discipline, harmonious exchanges, music, singing and dances so as to bring the youth to the basics and have sound recreational hobbies and why not professional careers in these fields of music. 
 
In September 2025, Mauritius will host the AAPCG 2025 and Grand Prix of Nations. What can we expect from these events?
Enormous windfall gains across different sectors for our country. Such Choir Games attract numerous participants-singers and accompanying persons, from the world apart from the two continents mentioned above. These participants will witness our diverse cultural society with several music, dance and choral backgrounds. They will be our ambassadors when they go back and promote our Republic.
We will also seize the opportunity to democratise the choral culture to include all the socio- cultural segments so that the foreigner will get to know the value and substance of our musical heritage. This will have a major impact in promoting our cultural tourism sector.

The economic benefits will also be great with our hotels, transport, both inland and air flights and other expenditures these participants will be incurring during their stay of an average of 12 days.  

Do you believe that we should encourage the hosting of such events in Mauritius so as to continue affirming our island’s place on the international cultural scene?
Indeed. Hosting such events will promote our country touristic attraction towards diverse segments of tourists and cultural tourism attract people from far across the world to travel and attend. We hope that with these first ever intercontinental Choir Games 2025, championed by the well-known InterKultur and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the stage will be set to encourage other major event organisers to choose Mauritius as a favoured destination to host their cultural events, the more so we have several nice infrastructures and so much different touristic attractions to offer. This will be a major component in the government policy to diversify our tourist base.