A Guide to Mauritian Music

What is Sega Music?

Sega is the most iconic and widely recognised music genre from Mauritius. Rooted in the traditions of enslaved people brought to the island from Africa and Madagascar, sega emerged as a form of expression, storytelling, and communal celebration. Today, it is Mauritius' national music and an integral part of the island's cultural identity.

Traditional sega is built around the ravanne (a large, circular goatskin drum), the maravanne (a rattle made from dried seeds), and the triangle. The music is characterised by its driving, syncopated rhythms and call-and-response vocals in Mauritian Creole. Lyrics often explore themes of love, hardship, daily life, and social commentary.

Modern sega has evolved to incorporate electric instruments, synthesisers, and contemporary production techniques while preserving the genre's rhythmic foundation. Artists perform sega at beach parties, hotel shows, national festivals, and major concert events across the island. In 2014, traditional Mauritian sega was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Sega is not just music — it is a dance. Performers move with swaying hips and barefoot footwork, often wearing brightly coloured clothing. The dance reflects the genre's African roots and the communal spirit of Mauritius.

What is Seggae?

Seggae is a genre unique to Mauritius, created by blending the rhythmic patterns of sega with the bass-heavy, offbeat groove of Jamaican reggae. The genre emerged in the late 1980s when Mauritian musicians began experimenting with fusing local sega rhythms with the conscious, socially aware sound of Caribbean reggae.

Seggae combined sega's traditional drum patterns with reggae's deep bass lines and laid-back tempo, creating a sound that was entirely new yet deeply rooted in Mauritian identity. Lyrics, sung in Creole, addressed social inequality, economic hardship, and cultural pride — topics that resonated deeply with communities across Mauritius.

Today, seggae continues to thrive through a new generation of artists who blend conscious lyrics with modern production techniques. The genre remains one of the most culturally significant musical forms in the Indian Ocean region, representing the creative spirit and social awareness of Mauritius.

Seggae typically features a slower tempo than traditional sega, with prominent bass lines, guitar skanks borrowed from reggae, and Creole vocals that carry messages of unity, love, and social awareness. It remains one of the most culturally significant genres in the Indian Ocean region.

What is Ravanne Music?

The ravanne is both an instrument and a musical tradition. As an instrument, it is a large, circular frame drum made from goatskin stretched over a wooden hoop, typically 50-70 cm in diameter. As a tradition, ravanne music represents the oldest surviving musical form in Mauritius, predating even sega in its most structured form.

Ravanne music is deeply percussive and communal. Traditionally performed around a bonfire on the beach, a ravanne session involves a group of drummers creating interlocking rhythms while singers improvise call-and-response vocals. The music builds in intensity, driving dancers into an increasingly energetic performance.

The ravanne drum requires significant skill to play. Musicians heat the goatskin near a fire to tighten it before performance, producing a deep, resonant tone. Techniques include open-palm strikes, fingertip rolls, and bass tones achieved by striking the centre of the drum.

While ravanne in its purest form is less commonly performed today, its influence permeates all Mauritian music. The ravanne drum remains the foundational instrument of sega, and ravanne rhythms form the backbone of both traditional and modern Mauritian music production.

Reggae in Mauritius

Reggae arrived in Mauritius in the 1970s and 1980s through radio broadcasts and cassette tapes from Jamaica and the UK. It found a natural home on the island because of shared themes — resistance against colonial legacies, celebration of African heritage, and the pursuit of social justice.

Mauritian reggae is distinct from its Jamaican origin. Lyrics are primarily in Mauritian Creole rather than Jamaican Patois, and the musical arrangements often incorporate sega rhythms and local instrumentation. This fusion created a uniquely Mauritian reggae sound that bridges Caribbean and Indian Ocean musical traditions.

The genre has been a vehicle for political and social commentary in Mauritius, addressing issues of inequality, racism, and the struggles of the Creole community. Many of the island's most prominent reggae artists — including Kaya himself — used the genre to amplify voices that were otherwise marginalised in Mauritian society.

Creole Folk Music

Creole folk music in Mauritius reflects the island's extraordinary cultural diversity. Drawing from African, Indian, Chinese, French, and British influences, it encompasses a wide range of musical forms — from devotional songs and work chants to festive celebration music and lullabies passed down through generations.

Instruments used in Creole folk include the sitar and tabla from Indian traditions, the erhu from Chinese heritage, the accordion and violin from European settlers, and the ravanne and maravanne from African traditions. This blend of instruments is unique to Mauritius and creates a sonic palette unlike anything found elsewhere in the world.

Creole folk music is intimately tied to festivals and celebrations. During events like the Festival International Kreol (held annually since 2006), musicians from across the Indian Ocean gather in Mauritius to celebrate Creole culture through music, dance, and storytelling.