Grup Latanier

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Grup Latanier is a popular musical group in Mauritius. It was founded in 1979 and well known throughout the island for their committed songs (Santé engagé). Nearly 30 years after its creation, the group is still very influential. Its authors are inspired by political unfairness, poverty, war, loathing, banes, culture, etc. They denounce through their songs these human made wrongdoings.^[1]

History[]

Soley Ruz[]

Mauritius attained its independence from the United Kingdom in March 1968. But in the early 1970s, the young nation was faced with social difficulties including a high level of unemployment. In 1969, the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) was created, mostly composed of students. This newly created political party quickly became the principal opposition party to the then-governmental majority, the Mauritius Labour Party of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. Highly repressive measures were taken against the MMM during the early 1970s.

In 1973, the MMM was split with Dev Virahsawmy creating a new party, the Mouvement Militant Mauricien Socialiste Progressiste (MMMSP). He was accompanied by some committed young friends-artists, among others: , Micheline Virahsawmy, Rosemay Nelson, , , and Lélou Ménwar, all of them committed singers and songwriters. They soon created a new music band, the "Grup Kiltirel Soley Ruz" (or "").

The band, representative of the Mauritian youth protesting movement, quickly became very popular all round the island, especially among the working-class. Their politically engaged songs sounded as a hope signal message to the struggling population.

Nitish and Ram joganah

After several years of active militancy, was finally dissolved in 1979 with most of its members starting solo careers.

Creation of Grup Latanier[]

After the dissolution of , some of its members continued to militate. and his brother decided to continue their fight against political and social injustice through music. By that time committed songs against political injustice as well as social and cultural banes had become a noteworthy means to raise people's consciousness.

On 19 November 1979, Ram and brother Nitish decided to create a new committed song band. They named it "Grup Latanier". They worked together with other artists to write and compose committed songs. Grup Latanier finally released their first album Krapo Kriyé in 1981.^[2]

Discography[]

Since their first album in 1981, the Grup has never had a spell of more than three years without releasing an album.

• Krapo Kriyé (1981)
• (1982)
• Lapel lorizon (1985)
• (1987)
• (1990)
• (1993)
• (1995)
• (1996)
• Frik (1999)
• (2002)
• (2002)
• (2003)
• (2004)
• (2006)
• (2009)is a reedition of Rapor Lepep (1987), released to celebrate the Group's 29th anniversary.
• (2009)
• (2011)
• (2012)

Grup Latanier has also released various compilations of its best songs. In 2007 they released Kalkilé, a compilation of their most memorable songs. Nitish Joganah said about that album that it was "time to forget the past and start a new chapter. To start with another fight, a new form of resistance." Their next album is expected to reflect that change.

Honors[]

In 2007, Grup Latanier was awarded the ^[3] Award Winners 2007 For Contribution in Music.^{[citation needed]} The band Grup Latanier celebrated its 40th anniversary at a concert held at Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis in August 2019. Various artists performed at the concert, including the Joganah brothers and Ram's son Gavin.^[4]

References[]

External links[]

• Official site