Young professionals: Giving music its place 

On Wednesday 21st June, the whole world celebrated International Music Day and so did Mauritius. However, local artists still argue that music does not have much importance in our society as compared to other countries. In some countries, there exist various competitions and even music academies. Where does Mauritius situate itself today? Our young professionals give their views.

Veetasha Jhummun: “Mauritius lays much emphasis on music” 

Music has a prominent role to play in the Mauritian society, says Veetasha. “Mauritius has a wonderful folklore when it comes to music. We promote all types of music. Many of our Mauritian artists have been able to perform at international level.  Mauritius lays much emphasis on music whether it is local or international. Today, the Sega and the Bhojpuri songs are a part of the Mauritian culture.” 

Paul Richard: “Lack of big musical influences” 

Paul Richard argues that in Mauritius much attention is dedicated to music. “Through the various TV channels, the national broadcast has been promoting different types of music. However, the Mauritian government does not do much to promote its own musical culture throughout the world.  Unlike some countries like France or the UK whose musical influences are acknowledged throughout the world, the Mauritian artist cannot survive by the only means of music because the government does not do enough for them, as it is passing laws against them.” He adds that Mauritius also lacks some of the biggest musical influences like jazz or rock. “Mauritius can do a lot better to promote its music and its local artists. Mauritius can be a leader in the African continent regarding music.”

Shravan Conhye: “Music not really exploited” 

Shravan argues that music in Mauritius is not really exploited to its full potential. “Many institutions hardly ever prioritise music in their curriculum, if not for the annual Music Day celebrations where students are allowed to put together some performances. Besides, the cultural diversity in Mauritius offers a wide array of music genres that we could tap into to inspire our youngsters or spice up the somewhat monotonous school day that they go through daily. It is a shame that nowadays, institutions readily swap these classes for other more ‘important’ ones while the music of our ancestors, and hence part of our history is slowly dying away.” He claims that if the Mauritian government actually considered music important, Mauritian artists would not have threatened to boycott the 12th March festivities.

Pamella Gangaram: “Music is not valued” 

Music is not as much valued in Mauritius as it is worldwide, believes Pamella. “It is sad that Mauritian people do not consider music as important in their every day’s life. “Music is an art where you create, perform, learn and even express emotions. “Music is not even the core subjects in school. There is no good music school in Mauritius where children can develop their skills and talents. Parents are educated, exposed to the world yet they find it irrelevant to send their child to music academy.” She applauds the initiative that the ministry of Art and Culture implement “Bhojpuri songs” at the national level; otherwise this would have been erased from our history with time. She feels that we need to encourage more and more people to lay more emphasis on music. Music is free gifted. We should benefit from it.”

Dwintee Rama: “Lack of platforms for music lovers” 

Dwintee Rama states that in Mauritius, there are institutions like the Conservatoire de Music Francoise Mitterand, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and other music schools which are developing the artistic talents of small children and elderly ones. “The introduction of the Nine-Year Continuous Basic Education where Holistic Education programme have been introduced will help our children to develop their hidden talents in music as from a tender age. Besides, we have many local artists who excel in the musical field but due to the lack of resources and platforms, they are unable to express themselves. The various authorities concerned should find encouraging means to develop the talents of these artists.” 

Ishan Ramdenee: “Music equipment not accessible” 

The artistic landscape of our motherland has changed in the last decade, states Ishan. “Most of our local artists are on their own and no longer reliant on recording studios and other institutions, to turn their artistic visions into reality. A synergy of factors has contributed to the democratisation of music making and distribution. Musical instruments and studio equipment have never been so accessible and affordable. All that is needed to produce a musical piece is a computer with decent specs. The learning curve associated with learning an instrument, be it virtual or tactile, is now curbed with the wealth of tutorials available online.” He states the range of music produced in our country is as rich and diverse as the plethora of cultures which co-exist alongside each other. “The amalgam of western, eastern and tropical vibes which is associated with our local music scene leaves no one indifferent, and it is ensured to continue on its growth trend for the foreseeable future.”