The Sega

Photo: mauritiusdelight.com

Mauritius may not have a national dish, but it does have a national song and dance. And, they're both the sega.

Started back during French colonial times, the sega was developed by the African slaves brought to Mauritius to work the plantations as a way to relieve their troubles, celebrate each other and forget their suffering.

Traditionally, the sega singer is backed instrumentally by a ravane (a thin, round, goat-skin drum), maravane (pebble-filled rattle) and a triangle. The lyrics often tell funny tales of love and joy. Using free-form shuffle steps, the dancers engage each other with undulating hips, swaying torsos and swinging arms. Women typically wear pretty blouses and long, flowing skirts, while the men wear loose-fitting shirts and pants.

Today, the sega remains a joyous event, seen everywhere from beach parties to weddings. Many hotels and resorts also offer sega performances for visitors. Click here to see a sega performance, courtesy of AZJV.