Mauritian Sega group -- Cassiya -- preps for live concert in Seychelles, for a good cause

Saturday's performance will be Cassiya's third concert in Seychelles. (Désiré François)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Mauritian band -- Cassiya -- with lead singer Désiré François will treat Seychellois fans to a live performance on Saturday in an end of year concert dubbed ‘Christmas in the Tropics.’

This will be Cassiya’s third time performing in the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The last time was 16 years ago during ‘Lakadans’ a concert organised for the annual Creole Festival.

Speaking ahead of the event, Désiré promised a high-level and colourful Sega concert.

"Our music repertoire will vary on Saturday night. We will revive some of Cassiya’s old hits while also presenting some new releases," Désiré said.

The pre-Christmas concert also has a charity element to it, as money raised will be used to finance some community projects.

The show is a collaboration effort between various local companies -- Takamaka Rum and Air Seychelles in partnership with Etihad Airways, Round Table Seychelles, Pure FM Seychelles, Oceana Sport Fishing Club supported by the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency.

A representative of the Seychelles Round Table and Oceana Sports Fishing Club, Shantilal Dhanjee said part of the profit will be used to finance some of the Seychelles Round Table’s charitable causes.

Chantale Poonoosamy of Takamaka Rum said that the company in partnership with the national airline -- Air Seychelles “would like to use money raised to finance the purchase of hearing aids for school children with hearing impairment.”

Cassiya’s lead singer Désiré told SNA that the group is always ready to perform for charitable causes.

“Some of our songs focus a lot on social issues and it's always a pleasure to sing for a charitable cause," he added.

The Mauritian group has recorded a total of 21 albums. The latest one is titled ‘Dipain Grillé.’ 

The Mauritian group and its lead singer Désiré François has recorded a total of 21 albums. (Désiré François) Photo License: CC-BY

Cassiya created in 1992, will celebrate its 25^th anniversary in 2017 and the group is already planning several international concerts to celebrate the achievement.

"We will celebrate through several shows, notably in Mauritius, Reunion, England, Paris and Australia. If Seychelles invites us we are ready to come and celebrate our 25^th anniversary in your islands as well,” said Désiré.

Désiré François and the Cassiya group, who are making huge success in the region with their hit song ‘Dipain Grillé (Mélina)’ has travelled to Seychelles with a 12-member delegation.

The ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ concert will kick off at 6pm local time and will open with performances by some well-known Seychellois artists including Jean-Marc Volcy, Joseph Sinon, Philip Toussaint, Elijah, Ion Kid and Sandra Esparon.

Tickets that have been on sale for the past few weeks cost 200 Seychelles rupees [$15] and there is also a VIP ticket costing 1,500 rupees [around $112].

The Mauritian band originates from the district of Cassis, in the Mauritian capital, Port-Louis. The group has known great success in the Indian Ocean region, alongside performances in various countries in Africa, Europe and Australia.

The group even gave a concert at ‘Le Zénith’ and at the Olympia music hall in Paris in the late 1990s.

Among the group’s success is also the 1993 release of its album titled ‘Separation’ which sold over 25,000 copies in record time.

Cassiya has also recorded a hit titled ‘Desizyon’ with well-known Seychellois female singer Jany De Létourdie.