GIS – 13 December 2024: A Sware Tipik was held to mark the opening of the Festival Internasional Kreol 2024, yesternight at Le Morne Village Public Beach, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The Festival’s theme this year is ‘Kreolite Bote Nou Morisianism’.
This edition of the Festival Internasional Kreol is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) from 12 to 22 December 2024, and comprises a series of activities seeking to showcase the authenticity of the kreol culture through local music, arts, language, handicraft and cuisine while demonstrating the richness of our Mauritian culture.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Mr Paul Bérenger; the Minister of Tourism, Mr Richard Duval; the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Mahendra Gondeea; several Ministers, Junior Ministers and Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; as well as other personalities were also present at the opening ceremony.
In his address, Prime Minister Ramgoolam highlighted that this Festival, which aims at strengthening ties among the whole population, celebrates the kreol culture and goes beyond one community in Mauritius. He moreover pointed out that kreol culture not only involves people but also englobes handicraft, cuisine, music, language and values.
The Prime Minister thus reassured that Government will now strive towards bringing together all Mauritians around the National Flag. He also stressed that Government will encourage children to learn music at school so that they are more in touch with their culture and develop holistic skills.
Furthermore, Dr Ramgoolam dwelt on the history surrounding Le Morne mountain, which was listed on the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) list of World Heritage Sites in 2008, and how it symbolises the resistance capacity and the fight of our ancestors against oppression.
For his part, DPM Bérenger underlined that the Festival is being held despite Mauritius currently facing harsh times, and shows that our multiculturalism is one of the country’s forces. He also reassured that Government will provide adequate support to all artists of the Republic of Mauritius for them to regain their dignity and the population’s respect.
As for Minister Duval, he reminded that the theme chosen for this edition of the Festival showcases how Mauritius is a multicultural country. According to him, the Festival is an opportunity to showcase the richness of the kreol culture and valorise local artists, while contributing to enhance the country’s visibility worldwide.
Minister Gondeea, for his part, underscored that the Sega Tipik is not only a dance or music but is the expression of the history of slaves. He further observed that the Sega Tipik was inscribed on UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 10 years ago.
It is to be noted that other activities of the Festival Internasional Kreol 2024 include:
- A ‘Sega Jazz ek Sesion Sirandann’ at Four à Chaux, Trou D’eau Douce today;
- A ‘Gran Konser’ at Les Salines, Port Louis on 14 December 2024;
- A ‘Festival Kiliner ek Plato Dekouver bann Artis Lokal’ at Royal Road, Grand Bay on 15 December 2024;
- A ‘Spektak Limour’ at Residence Anoshka (Curepipe), Residence La Chaux (Mahebourg), Residence La Cure (Sainte Croix), Grande Rivière Noire and Sainte Catherine (L’Agrément, St Pierre) from 16 to 20 December 2024; and
A ‘Regat, Festival Kiliner ek Artizanal ek Konser Mizikal’ at Mahebourg Waterfront on 22 December 2024.
Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: https://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov
