Artist profile - Joseph Sinon: ‘I am trying to initiate new ideas to revitalise our culture’ |12 January 2017

Every week the Entertainment page will try to bring you a short profile on a Seychellois artist, be it in the performing, visual or other forms of arts.

In our second profile, readers will learn more about the talented musician, king of comedian and pétanque player Joseph Sinon.

His humour is infectious. To make his audience laugh, Joseph Sinon draws inspiration from his life and from the little bits and pieces of society. The dances he performs in his own way, while keeping his energy to the end, are also engraved in the memories. He is considered as one of the best Seychellois humorists of the moment.

Q: How did you become a comedian and musician?

A: I started comedy in 1981 when I was at the National Youth Service (NYS). I started performing role plays in 1995 by playing in Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. It was in 1997 that I actually started my music career with the launch of TANMI.

Q: Is it hard to balanced music and comedy?

A: It’s not hard to balance both. In my music I try to incorporate comedy to make people laugh. For me I take great pleasure in making people feel comfortable by listening to my music with a smile.

Q: Do you prefer to sing or make people laugh?

A: Well I am more comfortable making people laugh, seeing a smile on people’s faces shows that I am doing an excellent job, by making them forget about their daily problems for a few minutes.

Q: Do you have any other pastime?                                                                                                                                                                    

A: Besides music and comedy, I have been playing pétanque for the past 30 years. I got the chance to visit many countries such as France, Monaco and Mauritius among others while playing pétanque for my country.

Q: How do you see the art industry in Seychelles?

A: Arts in Seychelles could be at a higher level; the government is showing much more interest by coming with new concepts to develop the industry. I am also trying out new ideas to revitalise our culture. Soon I will be doing a concert called Seychelles Choque Le Monde, where all the best songs around the world will be played for Valentines’ Day. Stay tuned for more details...

U. J.