Grup Latanier

Infobox musical artist
Name = Grup Latanier

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Img_capt = Grup Latanier performing during a concert
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Palma, Quatre Bornes in Mauritius
Genre = Santé engagé
Years_active = 1979 to present
Label =
URL = http://latanier.com
Current_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 very 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. [www.gruplatanier.com]

History

Soley Ruz

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 Verahsawmy creating a new party, the _fr. 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 song writers. 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., Soley Ruz was finally dissolved in 1979 with most of its members starting solo careers.

Creation of Grup Latanier

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.

On 19 November 1979, Ram and brother Nitish decided to create a new committed song band. They named it "Grup Latanier". They worked together with other artists to write and compose committed songs. Grup Latanier finally released their first album "Krapo Kryé" in 1981.

Discography

Since their first album in 1981, the Grup has never had a spell of more that three years without releasing an album.

*Krapo Kriyé (1981)
*Nuvo Simé (1982)
*Lapel lorizon (1985)
*Rapor Lepep (1987)
*Soley Ruz (1990)
*Yer,zordi,dimé (1993)
*Realité (1995)
*Ki Pozition? (1996)
*Frik (1999)
*Louk Louké (2002)
*Lawva Lepep (2002)
*Souvenir enn lot sezon (2003
*Kitpunu (2004)
*Lapo tanbour (2006) Grup Latanier has also released various compilations of its best songs. In 2007 they released "Kalkilé", a compilation of their most memorable songs. Nitish Joganah said about that album that it was "time to forget the past and start a new chapter. To start with an another fight, a new form of resistance." Their next album is expected to reflect that change.

Honors

In 2007, Grup Latanier was awarded the MASA Award Winners 2007 For Contribution in Music.

External links

* [http://latanier.com/index.htm Official site]

References