Grup Latanier

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Grup Latanier
Grup Latanier performing during a concert
Background information
Origin	Palma, Quatre Bornes in Mauritius
Genre(s)	Santé engagé
Years active	1979 to present
Website	http://latanier.com
Members
Ram Joganah Nitish Joganah Thierry Ramadu Alain Remila Thierry Soobrayen Edley Favory Denis Gabriel Jeyen Coolen Kavi Joganah Ashvin Moothoosamy Nishal Boojhawon
Former 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^[1].

1 History
- 1.1 Soley Ruz
- 1.2 Creation of Grup Latanier
2 Discography
3 Honors
4 External links
5 References

[edit] History

[edit] Soley Ruz

Mauritius attained its independence from the United Kingdom in March 1968. But in the early 70s, this young Nation is faced with social difficulties including a high level of unemployment. In 1969, the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) is created and mostly composed of students. This newly created political party quickly became the principal opposition party to the then governemental majority, the Mauritius Labour Party of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. Highly repressive measures are taken against the MMM during the early 1970s.

In 1973, the MMM is split with Dev Verahsawmy creating a new party, the Mouvement Militant Mauricien Socialiste Progressiste (MMMSP). He is 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 create a new music band, the "Grup Kiltirel Soley Ruz" (or "Soley Ruz").

The band, representative of the Mauritian's 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.

Nitish and Ram joganah

After several years of active militancy, Soley Ruz is finally dissolved in 1979 with most of its members starting solo careers.

[edit] 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 the 19th of 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.

[edit] 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 in 1981

Nuvo Simé in 1982

Lapel lorizon in 1985

Rapor Lepep in 1987

Kitpunu album cover

Soley Ruz in 1990

Yer,zordi,dimé in 1993

Realité in 1995

Ki Pozition? in 1996

Frik in 1999

Louk Louké in 2002

Lawva Lepep in 2002

Souvenir enn lot sezon in 2003

Kitpunu in 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.