Jean-Marc and Sandra clinch top Airtel Music Awards - Mampi brings the ‘wow’ effect to Seychelles

African star, Zambian R & B singer Mampi performed live in the Seychelles capital of Victoria alongside various local artist of the Indian Ocean Islands. (Joe Laurence)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Zambian superstar Mirriam Mukape, better known as Mampi, took a packed International Conference Centre in Seychelles' capital Victoria by storm Saturday during the Airtel Music Awards.

The ceremony, held every year, rewarded the best artists of the Indian Ocean archipelago for music released in 2014.

Sandra Esparon was named the 2014 Best Female Artist, while the award for Best Song went to veteran singer Jean-Marc Volcy, who won with his song "Dyelelo." Volcy also won the prize for the Best Male Artist.

Esparon, also walked away with two other awards, that of Duet, singing with Jakim, and for the Best Traditional Song. Esparon made her debut ten years ago with group 'Dezil' in 2005, with hit single 'San Ou (La Rivière) which was released in France by Sony Music, selling more than 500,000 copies in France.

Well-known female artist Sandra Esparon clinched several awards at the 2014 Airtel Music Award ceremony. This included the Best Female Artist, the award for Best Duet and the Best Traditional Song. (Joe Laurence / Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Another upcoming star is 14 year old Ashley Barallon, who after taking the prize for the Best Young Artist was also presented with the People's Choice Award from Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St Ange.

The ceremony saw young artist 14 year old Ashley Barallon wowed the crowd as she received the award for Best Young Artist from the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture. Barallon also received the People's Choice Award.(Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The award winners were pre-judged, but the audience was shown excerpts of the nominees’ songs.

The awards for Best Song and Best Male Artist went to veteran singer Jean-Marc Volcy, who is reputed for his traditional creole songs with the rythmic sega music. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Mampi wows Seychelles fans

Mampi's presence at the ceremony created the “big, extra and …wow effect” the organizers intended as local artists shared the staged with African talents.

Backed by the local band "Zenith", Mampi came on stage in the second part of the concert and trilled the over 500 spectators- who had purchased their tickets at $15 apiece- with her chart topper "Walilowelela," well-known among Seychelles fans.

In her first performance in Seychelles capital of Victoria, African rising star, Mampi from Zambia, wowed the crowd with her live performance and choreography. She was accompanied by a local band and was joined on stage by several local dancers. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The singer hailing from Lusaka sings in Bemba but she also performed several of her English hits in a mixture of R & B, reggae and kwaito rhythms.

Mampi, who released her debut album “Maloza” in 2005, has been performing since the age of 6 and became professional at 17, where she became an instant hit with her gyrating performances.

For her performance in the Indian Ocean Islands, she was accompanied by two Zambian female dancers who also delighted the crowd with their sensual dancing.

The show climaxed with Mampi calling for a few members of the audience to join her on stage.

Two young men and women obliged and it turned out that with one exception, they were the students from the local School of Dance.

One of them, Trisha Solomon, 19 years old, told SNA she had performed a "Soukous" to synchronize with Mampi's style. She had joined the Dance school at 8, going thrice weekly. 

The organizers of the third Airtel Music Awards in Seychelles, says that Seychelles and Africa have a lot of singing talent.

“Airtel is today present in 18 African countries and we hope that just as Mampi has come from Zambia to Seychelles, it will also be possible for Seychellois singers to perform in Africa," said Airtel Seychelles CEO, Amadou Dina to the crowd towards the end of the ceremony.

Young artist DMC TAJ performing at the ceremony. The main organiser of the event, Airtel has hailed Africa as having many singing talents. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

In February 2014 Airtel Seychelles signed a five-year sponsorship agreement to become the main sponsor of the event which includes production, marketing and advertising. The signing was done between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Airtel and the producer of the music awards, Terry Carolla.

As of 2015, the music awards are only open for musicians who are members of the Seychelles Authors and Composers Society (SACS) – the sole body in Seychelles that collects royalties on behalf of artists.

Recipients of 2014 Airtel Music Awards in a souvenir photo with the main sponsors of the annual event. This includes Airtel Seychelles, Seychelles Breweries and Air Seychelles. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Seychelles has two telecoms providers, Airtel Seychelles and Cable & Wireless Seychelles, which compete for the business of the 90,000 population.  

Cable & Wireless Seychelles also organises music awards called the Cable Tunes Music Awards. Sandra Esparon also won the Best Female Artist at those awards in November last year.