La Digue veteran artists enter the Seychelles Musicians Wall of Fame
ATP- Arab tourism portal- Four veteran artists from La Digue have been added to the Seychelles Musicians’ Wall of Fame at the entrance of National Cultural Centre.
Despily Williams, Jeanne Legge, Thomas Knowles and Fernande Armantine, have theirs stars engraved into the Musicians’ wall of Fame.
It was the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, who publicly announced the names of the four veterans from La Digue, and together with the Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, who also heads the Ministry of Community Development, Social Affairs and Sports, Jean Paul Adam the Minister for Finance, Trade and Blue Economy, Benjamine Rose the principal secretary for Culture, Sherin Naiken the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board unveiled the four stars in the Musicians’ Wall of Fame.
It is not surprising that names of four veteran artists from La Digue are mentioned and engraved on a star in the Musicians’ Wall of Fame.
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In 2013, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, National Arts Council and Seychelles Musicians Association (SEMAS), came out with a new initiative to recognise artists for their long standing contribution in the country’s musical arena.
The Musician’s Wall of Fame was born during Festival Kreol and with it two shooting stars, Francois Havelock and David Philoe.
In 2014, for Festival kreol Jany De Letourdie, Patrick Victor, David Andre, Jean Marc Volcy and Jean Marc Volcy joined the stars of the Wall of Fame.
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the National Arts Council and the Seychelles Musicians Association made it their duty not to rely solely during Festival Kreol to honour living artists, but to unveil the stars during the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s annual calendar of events.
It is with this in mind, for the eve of La Digue’s Feast of the Assumption, the timing was right to add four veteran artists from La Digue in the Musician’s Wall of Fame.
Minister St Ange congratulated the four artists for their hard work in putting culture in the centre of development.
“Culture is one aspect of our country, where Seychellois have contributed immensely to bring the performing and visual arts where it is today.
There is no nation without culture. It is the culture that forge a nation and give its people its identity.’’
Minister St Ange said it the duty of Ministry of Tourism and Culture to honour its living artists.
‘’ I would like to congratulate Thomas Knowles for inspiring our people with his music, Fernande Armantine for creating the mardilo dance troupe and passing it within her family’s generation, Despily William whose hits have inspired so many Seychellois and Jeanne Legge who continues to be an inspiration for our young people.
You have done a lot for culture and with this star you will always be remembered and never forgotten’’ said Minister St Ange
The unveiling of the stars took place in the absence of Despily William and Jeanne Legge who for unforeseen circumstances could not make it to the ceremony. However, it will be during the show of Joseph Sinon organised on La Digue for the Feast of Assumption, that all the four artists will receive their certificates in the presence of their people.
The Seychelles Musicians’ Association ( SEYMAS) said other forms of arts will in the coming future included as nominees of Musicians’ Wall of Fame. He appealed to these associations to submit their proposals to the Seychelles Musicians’ association
