SESEL I ANNAN TALAN – EKSPLOZIV TALAN |24 May 2018

And the winner is…..

The clock is slowly ticking, adrenaline flowing and the tension building as 20 young artists competing for first places in the Sesel I Annan Talan competition prepare for the grand final on Saturday May 26.

Over 200 artists from Mahé, Praslin and La Digue embarked on this exciting journey with the Jj Spirit Foundation since November last year when the public call was made. Registration for this sixth the Sesel I Annan Talan competition which promised more diversity opened in March.

The competition took to another level indeed with the addition of poetry and dance to the singing contest. The formula has proven effective, considering that the previous five contests showcased singing only. The three art forms are complementing each other very well and have fused into an “Eksploziv Talan” (explosion of talents) as this year’s theme proposes.

Contestants for singing and poetry are competing in two categories: 12 to 17 and 18 to 35 years old and they perform solo. Dance is an open category with duets or groups, not exceeding six members. They have moved television viewers and are the subject of many conversations since the first programme was broadcast on the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

For the contestants though, it all started with the audition in March followed by the challenge week which took the participants out of the comfort zones by assigning them special tasks like singing the romans, dancing to Creole folkloric music or reciting a poem written by someone else.

“The competition has so far generated almost 15 hours of premium entertainment content for the SBC which is a co-producer and broadcast partner,” says Raymond Clarisse, the consultant executive producer.

“It has been overwhelming at times with long days and sleepless nights for the producers but as always it has been very satisfying because at the end of the day it is the talents that matter,” adds Mr Clarisse.

The last competition programme in the series was aired last night and a special programme on the road to the finals will be on air tomorrow at 9pm.

Saturday’s grand final at the International Conference Centre, starting at 6pm will be broadcast live on SBC television.

In the meantime the finalists are very busy polishing their performances through intensive daily rehearsals at the ICCS.

The chief executive of the Jj Spirit Foundation, Idith Alexander, says the Foundation is very pleased that the contestants are fully focused on their arts and on giving the best of themselves despite not knowing prizes that are up for grabs.

“Indeed Sesel i annan talan and we are happy that we are showcasing and nurturing young talents since 2009 and contributing towards the development of the creative industry and the Arts in general,” she adds.

The prizes are closely guarded secrets only to be revealed on Saturday night.

However, Ms Alexander is promising some very attractive prizes. She comments that “all those who have reached the finals are winners in their own rights”.

The public will also be able to vote (9688-Cable & Wireless and 9622-Airtel) for their preferred contestant for the Public Vote Award (see finalists table). The lines are already open since 9.30pm yesterday and will close at midnight tomorrow.

The finalists are also benefitting from guidance and coaching by experienced artists in all the forms as for some of them it will be their first performance before a live audience.

Sesel I Annan Talan – Eksploziv Talan is a production of the Jj Spirit Foundation which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

Sesel I Annan Talan – Eksploziv Talan

The Finalists