Bongo Joe Records’ handpicked gems from Mauritius, Seychelles and La Reunion’s golden age of Sega
In the 17th century, slaves were deported from Africa, Madagascar and the pristine islands of Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles to work on coffee and sugar cane plantations. To escape their daily woes, the slaves were singing, dancing and beating rhythms. Afro-Malagasy-inspired sega, or (t)chega music was born.
During the course of the 19th century, the Creole population’s gradual adoption of Western instruments and traditional melodies of old Europe, laid the foundation for contemporary sega. This crossroads of influences kept expanding, especially in the 50s, when the first gramophones hit the market and all sorts of records were played, from pop to jazz, soul, rock and roll, and even Cuban and Brazilian music. For sega music, this hailed the beginning of an intense period of creativity which would linger on into the 60s and 70s. Schweiz label Bongo Joe captures for the second time the most precious sega treasures on this new thrilling compilation.
Soul Sega Sa Vol.2, out December 6th via Bongo Joe. Discover the album art below.
