Seychelles to get first Festival Kreol hymn |04 September 2015

For the first time in its history, Seychelles will get its Festival Kreol hymn. The Seychelles Music Association (Seymas) and National Arts Council have selected five past winners of the Festival Kreol song competition, whose songs’ lyrics reflect the essence of the hymn’s theme. Joenise Juliette, Patrick Joseph, Simon Amade, Jean Marc Volcy and Sandra Esparon, all winners of Festival Kreol song except for Joenise Juliette who came out second, are the chosen voices for the hymn.
 
Alain Bacco, executive board member of the Seymas, presented the idea of having a Festival Kreol hymn to the Festival Kreol committee to mark the event’s 30th anniversary.
He said the hymn’s theme will reflect the evolution of the festival since its inception 30 years ago. Now that all the artists have been called in to work on the hymn the coming weeks will prove to be decisive as they write the lyrics.

The team will then move into the studio to record the hymn. Alain Bacco said he has already composed the music of the hymn, but added that it can change as the lyrics start to surface.
The Festival Kreol hymn will be launched later this month.

Seychelles had adopted Joe Samy’s hit song La Sezon Kreol as the Festival Kreol hymn.

The voices behind the hymn…

Born in January 29, 1996, Jean Marc Volcy’s Vandredi Sen song had the effect of a bombshell when it hit the Seychelles cultural landscape. The Seychellois public took ownership of the song as it boosted their pride and sense of identity. With the track hit, Jean Marc Volcy made his mark and went on to produce many albums and staged many performances. In 1996, Jean Marc Volcy took the lead in the Festival Kreol song competition and won first prize.

Joenise Juliette’s long and lasting love affair with Creole music started at a young age. But it was only in 1987 that singing became “part of her life”. It was in 1995 that Joenise Juliette crystalised her mark on the musical arena with her hit song Larenn Sega which earned her the reputation of Seychelles’ sega queen. Besides her vast repertoire of Creole hit songs, Joenise composed Sapo Sikse and was ranked second in the Festival Kreol song competition organised in 1994.

Simon Amade’s uncontested talent and Creole songs repertoire were famous in the 1980s when he conquered the country’s musical stage with his hit song Si mon ti konnen. Simon Amade kept his print as one of the country’s most promising artists of his generation.  It was at the age of 17 that Simon Amade started to develop a keen interest in music.  Winner of various national day song competitions, in 1993 Simon added another trophy to his accolade by winning first prize in the Festival Kreol song competition with the song Lafet in ariv ankor. Simon was born in 1964.

Sandra Esparon is one of the country’s youngest shooting stars in the musical arena. Her voice, most coveted for national artistic projects, won her stardom.  One of the country’s ‘Big 5’ music stars, Sandra won first place in the 2013 Festival Kreol song competition with the song Nou Lidantite.

Patrick Joseph’s hit song Lavi lontan ti vreman gou composed while he was at the then National Youth Service, launched his musical career. The humble Patrick doesn’t see himself as a star in the Seychelles musical arena, but “a serious artist”.
Patrick won first prize in the 2005 Festival Kreol song competition with Prezerv nou lidantite.