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Sega dancers and musicians performing in Mauritius

The Sega
Mauritius Guide

The voices, the rhythms and the stories they carry. Discover the artists, instruments and living traditions of Mauritian sega.

Discover sega
Photo by Balou46Photo by Lonelyplanet

Sega at a glance

Begin with sega tipik, traditional Mauritian sega. Voices, percussion and dance come together in a living practice passed between generations.

Roots
Creole heritage

A history shaped by enslaved people and their descendants.

Voices
Mauritian Creole

A lead singer is answered by other voices in the group.

Percussion
Three instruments

Ravanne, maravanne and triangle form the traditional ensemble.

Transmission
Living knowledge

Learned through participation, with musicians, families and communities.

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Understand sega tipik

Begin with the essentials

Explore the guide
Sega dancer in a floral dress with accompanying musicians at Pointe aux Piments

The history of sega in Mauritius

Explore sega’s roots in slavery, Creole expression, oral transmission and the changing musical life of Mauritius.

Sega dancers in blue and yellow dresses performing indoors in Mauritius

Sega tipik, voice and percussion

Understand traditional Mauritian sega, its singers, ravanne, maravanne, triangle and shared practice.

Metal triangle percussion instrument suspended against a pale surface

The instruments of sega

Meet the ravanne, maravanne and triangle, with guidance on listening, construction, learning and buying.

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Find your way
into the music.

From Ti Frère’s voice to Menwar’s ravann, from recorded sega to Kaya’s seggae. Follow credited recordings and listen to what changes.

Enter the listening room
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Connected histories.
Distinct traditions.

Explore the heritage records

Sega tipik

Mauritius

Voice, ravanne, maravanne and triangle. A living Creole practice, recognised by UNESCO in 2014.

Sega tambour

Rodrigues

A distinct island tradition, with its own performance vocabulary and a 2017 UNESCO inscription.

Sega tambour Chagos

Chagossian communities

Song, dance and tambour, carrying community memory. Inscribed for urgent safeguarding in 2019.

Seggae

Mauritius

A meeting of sega and reggae, shaped by Kaya and other Mauritian musicians.

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Round goatskin ravanne on a patterned cloth
Photo by MU Music Contributor

A skin. A circle. A whole language.

The ravanne is an invitation to listen closely. Learn about the frame drum, the people who make it, and the questions worth asking before you buy.

Meet the ravanne

Make a thoughtful visit

Where to see a sega show in Mauritius

Find documented performance leads and learn how to confirm a sega evening, live ensemble, admission and access.

Where to find and buy sega instruments

Verified research leads and a practical checklist for buying a ravanne, maravanne or triangle in Mauritius.

Sega dance, participation and respect

A considerate introduction to watching and joining sega dance in Mauritius.

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Mauritian performers holding flags during a finale at AbbyFest in Abbotsford
Photo by University of the Fraser Valley

A living culture.
Across generations.
Across oceans.

Mauritian dancers at AbbyFest in Canada, 2012. Explore photographs with their real places, people and context.

Open the gallery

Articles

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