Grup Latanier
| Grup Latanier | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Palma, Quatre Bornes in Mauritius |
| Genres | Santé engagé |
| Years active | 1979 to present |
| Website | http://gruplatanier.com/ |
| Members |
Ram Joganah Nitish Joganah Thierry Ramadu Alain Remila Thierry Soobrayen Edley Favory Denis Gabriel Jeyen Coolen Kavi Joganah Ashvin Moothoosamy Nishal Boojhawon |
| Past members | Lindsay Rousselin Hervé Ga Jean-Noel Brabant Ram Gorapa Bruno Mooken |
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.
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: Bam Cuttayen, Micheline Virahsawmy, Rosemay Nelson, Nitish Joganah, Ram Joganah and Lélou Ménwar, all of them committed singers and songwriters. They soon created a new music band, the "Grup Kiltirel Soley Ruz" (or "Soley Ruz").
The band, representative of the Mauritian youth protesting movement, quickly became very popular all round the island, especially among the working-class. Their committed songs sounded as a hope signal message to the struggling population.
After several years of active militancy, Soley Ruz was finally dissolved in 1979 with most of its members starting solo careers.
After the dissolution of Soley Ruz, some of its members continued to militate. Ram Joganah and his brother Nitish Joganah 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.
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