Traditional music and dance
With its Bantu, Persian and Arab influences, as well as those brought by Indian immigrants and Western settlers, the music and dances of Mayotte tell the story of the archipelago better than anything else. Precious testimonies to the past that Mayotte has kept intact thanks to the talent of its musicians and the passion of its public.
If you're looking for the quintessential Mayotte music and dance, look no further than m'godro. Practiced today by all sections of the population, with no age limit, its history is deeply rooted in the archipelago and undoubtedly dates back to the Malagasy era. Over time, instruments and influences from overseas were added. Today, the feverish rhythms of m'godro are played with purely Mahorese instruments such as the gaboussa or the m'kayamba, as well as the tam-tam. The great names of the genre are Mikidache, who, although very eclectic, has composed some very good ones; Baco Ali, leader of the group Tama Music and one of the essential artists on the Mahorais musical scene; Bob Kira, a great defender of m'godro alongside his big brother Lathéral (who mixes it with reggae); the singer Lima Wild, who has a few in her repertoire; and Jean-Raymond Cudza, famous for having modernized m'godro with electric guitar and synthesizer. Today, the young guard is breathing new life into the genre, led by artists such as M'Toro Chamou.
Although m'godro is very popular and therefore particularly visible, it is far, far from being the only musical and choreographic tradition cultivated on the island. Emblematic of Mayotte are the m'biwis, small bamboo sticks (claves) struck together, played exclusively by women in groups, while dancing and singing. The m'biwis accompany many ceremonies. Also reserved exclusively for women, debaa combines traditional dance, music and song. Whether religious or not, this practice sees a choir take up a soloist's melody while performing a choreographed routine accompanied by timpani.
Exclusively for men this time, shigoma is an island practice (also seen in the Comoros) where dancers in a circle obey the rhythmic drumming, while murengué (or moringue) is a particularly brutal combat dance, reserved for men, where combatants duel with fists and feet to the rhythm of percussion. Among mixed dances, one of the most remarkable is the biyaya. Performed in a circle in which people follow one another, participants step backwards and forwards to the rhythm of a percussion ensemble.
Of course, the archipelago also boasts its own instruments, such as the gaboussa (or gaboussi) and the dzindzé. The former is a small, typically Mahoran guitar, an excellent ambassador for which is Langa, an atypical and talented character who is inseparable from the instrument. The second, the dzindzé, is also a more original stringed instrument, sometimes built around a long resonance box. Colo Hassani is a renowned player.
The "FatMa" festival of traditional Mayotte arts, a major event in this field, is coupled with the commemoration of the abolition of slavery, and therefore takes place every year at the end of April. It's an opportunity to attend exhibitions, concerts, conferences and dance performances. It's an opportunity to promote the culture and traditions of the island and to plunge into the soul of the island. In a different vein, the Laka festival on Bouéni beach aims to raise awareness of the island's marine park. All living traditions linked to the sea are highlighted during mid-November. This is also an opportunity to take part in a unique activity: the pirogue race!
Current music
From one island to another, Mayotte shares a passion with Jamaica: reggae. For decades, the genre has been omnipresent, nurtured by a handful of local figures. Starting with Bob Dahilou. Some would agree that he imported reggae here, and he's so popular that a street bears his name. Another very important pillar of local music, Baco has, over a career spanning more than twenty years, played a great deal of reggae that also blends afro-jazz and m'godjo. As for reggae, we should also mention Wubani Spirit, one of the most frequently touring local artists, and Babadi. A Comorian revelation in 1997, Babadi has established himself over time as an advocate of modern m'godro, combining committed lyrics with reggae influences.
Still a mainstay - or not far off - Del Zid is a more exploratory figure in the musical landscape of Mauritania. Constantly on the lookout, he takes the sounds of Mayotte to jazz, groove, Afro-blues and pop, always paying tribute to the island's cultural diversity. In the same spirit, it's impossible to spend a moment in Mayotte without hearing a song by Chakires. Since the 1980s, this multi-instrumentalist has been composing gentle melodies that blend different styles. A perfect example is his second album Baswa, where Bantu, Swahili and Arabic rhythms meet, punctuated by European harmonies.
Let's not forget to mention Mikidache, a very important name on the island whose music blends local traditions and Indian Ocean rhythms, Diho, a Mahorais based in Marseille, and inventor of afro-chigoma, or M'toro Chamou, a committed artist, mentioned above and an important player in the revival of Mahorais music.
Mayotte may be modest in size, but it thinks big when it comes to concerts. Just take a look at the program of its Milatsika Festival. Meaning " our culture " in Shimaoré, since 2007 it has been the major event of the Indian Ocean, inviting the cream of artists from Mayotte, Madagascar and Reunion - not forgetting mainland France. Year-round, a number of venues play a major role in the island's buzz, including Quarz, Mayotte's lively and institutional address, Barakili, a resto-bar known for its festive evenings and regular concerts, and Faré, a restaurant and local institution.
