On 22 February 2014, Mauritius will pay tribute to the musician Joseph Réginald Topize, better known as Kaya. Many artists will take the stage to celebrate the memory of the founding father of seggae, a blend of reggae and sega, the island's music.
It has already been 15 years since Kaya died in murky circumstances. Arrested in February 1999 for lighting a spliff on stage during a demonstration for the decriminalisation of marijuana in Rose Hill, he was found on 21 February with his skull split open, lying in his own blood, in his cell at the Casernes centrales in Port-Louis.
The police stated that he had smashed his own skull against the walls, but young people did not believe it and his death set the island ablaze (as recounted by Hélène Lee in an article for Libération).
Fifteen years on, on Saturday 22 February 2014, at the Stade Nelson Mandela, many artists will follow one another on stage to salute his memory: Azaria, Racinetatanne (Kaya's band), Ras Minik & Cool Is I, Bruno Raya, Natir Samarel, Dagger Killa, Blakkayo & Solda Kaz Bad, Small Axe, Ras Mayul, Israelite, Nayabhingi, DJ Kingdom.
More info: http://paradizeburning.net