Sega is a syncretic Indian Ocean musical genre that emerged on the colonial plantations of the 18th century through encounters between enslaved labourers with diverse ancestors. On the Chagos Archipelago, sega dances traditionally took place on Saturday nights and celebrations. Song lyrics would protest against social, political, and economic conditions; lament personal suffering; depict joyful occasions; or jest by using double entendres.
KREOL
Sega
Sega li enn form lamizik melanze, ki’nn devlope dan Losean Indien, lor bann plantasion kolonial lepok 18em siek, parmi bann esklav sorti depi Lafrik, Madagaskar, Lazi. Dan Sagos, parey kouma dan bann lezot zil, sware sega ti pe fer dan samdi ek bann zur fet. Parol sante dir lakoler kont lavi social, politik ek ekonomik; rakont soufrans personel; exprim lazwa lek kontantman; fer riye, met lanbians, koz traver, koz an parabol.
In this film, recorded in Mauritius, Emelyn Sowamber takes a tour of Chagossian music, instruments, song, and dance. Herville Nanon and Marcel Humbert explain the significance of the makalapo, Marcel Humbert desmonstrates zez, Francis France plays bom, Herville Nanon heats the tambour, and Fabrice Mercida teaches triang. Maudea Saminaden sings a Chagossian sega called "Mo ti ena 13 an dan Chagos" ("I was 13 years old on Chagos"), and describes the dance costumes while dressing girls in preparation for their dance lesson. Rosemay Mandarin teaches girls how to dance Chagossian sega, accompanied by the Chagos Tambour Group in Mauritius.
