It’s nine years today since Kaya died. Was he killed? Did he die naturally? No one (?) knows. And I am not sure I want to know what happened on that day.
What I do know instead is that Kaya (born Joseph Réginald Topize) was one among the greatest composers, musicians and singers born in Mauritius.
His legacy is his songs. I bought his Best Of, Seggae Experience, a few years ago and I’ve been playing two songs repeatedly today: Chant l’Amour and Ras Kouyon.
This first sentence from Chant l’Amour has very special meaning to me:
Mo zenseignant ti fini so lé temps
Pou faire moi comprend tou seki embalao”
(Translation: I remember when I was a kid, my teacher spent all his time teaching us useless things [instead of important things].) I always have this sentence in mind when I teach… and that’s why I guess I am a decent teacher.
One day I read something somewhere:
Sometimes this sounds like “people in underdeveloped countries do not have any respect for their own artists”. (Of course, if someone remotely talented comes from Europe or from India, then we’ll all pay hundreds of rupees to go and watch that real artist…)
Maybe we’re still underdeveloped here.
RIP, Kaya.
Popularity: 2% [?]
February 22nd, 2008 at 02:31
Hello Avi,
A tragedy for Mauritius that one of its brightest artists disappeared in such conditions. For once, we had a musical genius, mixing reggae with sega, with strong lyrics.
Thanks for reminding this to us. It’s important that Kaya’s memory remains.
Check out this documentary: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1alw3_zafair-kaya-1_music
I was quite deeply moved by the last part of video 4.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:21
Indeed Kaya is one of the best artists, if not the best, that this country has produced. My personal favourite is “Le pep to racine pe brilé …”.
And what better way to remember him than having his song “Leve do mo pep” as the tune for the “Koze do po pep” on Top FM
It’s sad that people used him for their own benefit ….
But the worst part is that the name Kaya is sometimes used in a derogatory manner, I’m sure at some point we’ve heard statements like “Banne Kaya sa …. ” and this to me is the ultimate insult to the artist.
February 22nd, 2008 at 13:34
This is the key characteristic of insular people: we tend to be afraid of those who are different from us.
That’s why it’s important for young people to spend a few year abroad if possible. This is one great way to get a proper sense of perspective.
February 25th, 2008 at 20:10
Big Respect to one of the greatest Mauritian artist
“bizin coZe la veriT zenes, tou fami ki ti la pas ti laie tenD, combien fine mort ti pe bizin la sagesse..”
never met kaya but through his songs seems i knew him, his messages and his style of conveying them was too good.
there’s also l’ampir universel that i like.
RIP,Kaya
February 27th, 2008 at 16:14
heard that next yr, for the 10th anniversary, there’ll be a mega concert till the early morning…
anyway, he’s was a good artist, no doubt about that, but the question still remains unanswered!
March 6th, 2008 at 16:46
Please correct your entry:
“Of course, if someone remotely talented comes from Europe or from India, then we’ll all pay THOUSANDS of rupees…”
Ave Dodoland!!
March 6th, 2008 at 22:04
Kaya = bob marley’s song/album name
Seggae? Whats that? Reggae in creole? Kaya used to sing reggae…
And the reggae king is Bob Marley.. a legend!
I love Kaya’s song “Chant lamour” very much btw.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:54
Seggae is a mix of Reggae & mauritiian music sega! So its Seggae!! Btw, for those who dnt know, Kaya autopsy in la reunion proved that he dies of injuries to the head!! Caused by the bullshit police of Mauritius!!
June 24th, 2008 at 02:24
Yo man. P zouer santer Ras Kouyon p aler meme zordi la.. Trop nissa sa santer la. Sagrin ki Kaya nepli en vie. Ti pu ena eneta plis bon santer ti pu vini sinon, c sur. Kikene ena paroles santer Ras Kouyon?
July 13th, 2008 at 19:18
After all this time kaya still remain the king of seggae. So sad that its only when he died and after the riots that people knew his true value. Anyway, my fav song is “Sime la lumier”. 2 thumbs up for that great artist!!! (”,)!!!!
July 13th, 2008 at 23:05
Hi. Just to correct, the real is R.I.P., not RIP. And sme1 said thousand of rupees, concert are still at 500rs in mauritius. And avi, the term underveloped is i think too degratory, use developing countries instead.
August 21st, 2008 at 14:33
Aha KAYA ine mort mais zamais so kamizik pa fine dan nou. line mort pou 1 koz ek 1 zour so bataille ek so lamort pou amene so fruit nou JAH pou legalise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 14:34
Wai sory pa ‘kamizik’ sa c ‘lamizik’