Up Close ... with Richard Ally, painter /photographer |04 February 2014

‘Faith is the hand that pulls us up when we fall’

By B.P Damou

Going round town mainly on a busy day, observing and listening to conversations going on between people you can identify whenever there is some kind of disappointment among the public. Lately wherever I have been I could hear people complaining about the young people nowadays.

“They are good for nothing”, “They are lazy”, “They waste their time in drug and alcohol” are a few criticisms that you can hear whenever you hear people complaining about the young people nowadays.

It might be true there are a few that have strayed along the way, but 22-year-old Richard Ally, who will turn 23 the day after tomorrow, has decided to try and be a good role model for other youngsters like him.

Richard was born on February 6, 1991. He lives at Quincy Village and comes from a family of six children; he is the baby of the family. Richard did his primary studies at the Anse Etoile school and pursued his secondary studies at the English River school. He then went to the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT), where he studied painting and decorating.

“I was a child who wanted to know everything. I did not want anything pass me by without asking questions and looking for answers,” Richard said.

Richard is still remembered by his teachers and school colleagues for this kind of attitude.

After completing his studies at the SIT Richard went to work for Shreeji Construction where he gained experience in construction for one year. Then, moving away from the line of work he studied, he went to work for Oceania Fisheries where he was posted in the smoked fish section. He worked there for two years. And to date he has been working for three months for the Trois Frère Distillery – Takamaka Bay, where he is the assistance maintenance.

“Working as an assistance maintenance for Takamaka Bay gives me joy when my boss is satisfied with my job. It makes me proud whenever he thanks me and congratulates me for the work that I have done,” Richard beamed.

“And sometimes after I have finished a job I do feel like we say in Creole ‘vantar’ as I know I have done exactly what I was asked to do,” Richard said laughing.

Some might by now be wondering if Richard is related to the well-known singer Jean Ally. Richard said that Jean Ally is a distant family and yes his family also is into music. He said that he used to be in a group called Freedom Group, a spiritual group in which Richard was the drummer.

“Even if I come from a family of musicians, I found that music was not my calling,” he said.
 
“I have always enjoyed photography and I was inspired by one of my friends, Johnny Volcère, who used to encourage me into photography,” Richard added.

“It was my girlfriend Julie Lespoir who gave me my first camera and lifted me up whenever I fell down,” Richard said.

It is now almost two years since Richard has been doing photography outside his job. Richard has done weddings, parties and shows.

“I do more weddings and the feeling I get whenever I taking photos at a wedding is that one day I will be in front of the camera unlike when I am working behind it.”

“If ever I get to be in front of the camera I will know exactly what to do if my nerves don’t get the better of me,” Richard joked.

Richard said that he enjoys taking photos as they immortalise good moments so that they last forever. Apart from photography Richard also does a little a bit of filming. He works with Martin Lebon in filming video clips and musical shows such as the Cable Tune Awards.

Even if Richard has discovered that music is not his calling in his spare time he helps his brother Alan Ally in his studio where he produces music.

“If someone asks me to mix music I will be able to do it but I just do not play anymore,” Richard said.

Since he also spends a lot of time with other young people like himself, Richard has some advice for them.

“Having faith is the hand that pulls you up when you fall. In whatever we do we need to have faith in the Almighty and in ourselves. If we do not believe in ourselves how can we expect others to believe in us? We young people are not perfect but we can do things that our parents and the society can be proud of,” Richard said.

“If we look at other countries, they too have the problems where the young people are into drugs and alcohol, and Seychelles is not an exception. But is us the youth that need to put our feet down and strive to better our society as the future depends on us. We have a lot of opportunities in front of us and all we need to do is grab them with both hands. We do not expect other people to come and make the change for us. When we wake up in the morning we need to know our priority and we need to know what we want to do already as it tends to take our minds off bad influences,” Richard added.

Richard also noted that it is not easy to come out of an addiction, but if you put your faith in God you will make it through.

Richard believes that Seychelles needs a lot of faith and prayer. He said the Seychelles of today will be very different to someone who has been living outside the country for a long time in view of the great transformation it has gone through.

He said in the past using drugs was taboo or the drug users will hide. But nowadays people do it rather openly.

“I believe that only advising and educating is not going to work. Everybody, not just government, must give a helping hand if we want to eradicate social ills in our country,” Richard said.
Richard also believes that gratitude is a virtue that helps a young to grow wisely.

“I would like to thank God first for being who I am today. My thanks also goes to my family especially my brother Alan and his wife Françoise. I will also like to thank my girlfriend Julie, Johnny Volcère, Martin Lebon, France Hoareau and everyone who has helped me to be what and where I am today.”

So if you are planning your wedding, a party and you’re looking for a photographer or you are thinking of painting and decorating your house, do not hesitate to give Richard a call on 2764215.