musical communities...where are you???

[jiminycricket81]

Hi I am studying landscape architecture in australia and would love to know where around port luis or in land from port luis are there enclaves of musical people living. I know next to nothing about mauritius, yet I am a little familiar with the music. I am currently completing an assignment on cultural spaces and am thinking about designing an outdoor hub for musical activity and dance/ performance to occur...I have looked on google earth and seen some sections along the waterfront that are vacant and may be good to suggest some rejuvenation, however I would like to know if there are regions away from the main tourism hub of the waterfront that may be appropriate to stage such a place that is more accessible to locals who would appreciate such a place. If the waterfront is the best place to do this then of course I will design it there...Im open to any suggestions!!! thank you so much!, James

[Dietmar]

Hello James,

welcome to the Mauritius Forum.

around Port-Louis I would suggest the following regions having several Sega artists, Cassis, Roche Bois, and then further on in the towns like Rose-Hill. But Rose-Hill isn't part of Port-Louis but not far away. Then more further away, amidst mountaineous nature, you have a place called Chamarel, there, many Rastas live there and make Reggae and Seggae music, they are quite autonomous I think and cultivate their own food. Does this information help a little ?

Outdoor musical hub, hmm, how can I picture this to be ? Am not so familiar with this...

"I have looked on google earth and seen some sections along the waterfront that are vacant and may be good to suggest some rejuvenation"

So far a few concerts were held there, Reggae ones, kind of festivals, but their marketing was probably not good because it didn't attract much people. But you definitely have a youth here that would go in masses if they know where its happening.

By the way, the Caudan Waterfront is often used by little bands to perform some music. Or young people to perform something. But this neither doesn't attract any crowds. Its more that the people who are already there, seated in the coffee shops that will spend a glimpse to have a look. And then keep on sipping on their coffees...

But you named it: Rejuvenation might be the key!

"however I would like to know if there are regions away from the main tourism hub of the waterfront that may be appropriate to stage such a place that is more accessible to locals who would appreciate such a place."

I think there is, but I cannot tell you where exactly. Maybe at Les Salinnes. But Caudan Waterfront is also well visited by mauritians - more mauritians than tourists.

" If the waterfront is the best place to do this then of course I will design it there...Im open to any suggestions!!! thank you so much!"

Yes, it could be that Le Caudan Waterfront might be the best to start off because it has some infrastructure and it is commonly used. But maybe you'll need to elaborate more what you have in mind cause this might allow us to give you some more in depth suggestions.

Hope all is well on your side in Australia. Are you from Mauritius ? Any relation to this island ? Why do you want to make a project like that for Mauritius ?

C u, Dietmar

[jiminycricket81]

Hey mate, thanks soooo much for your detailed reply, ill get back to you once ive checked out those sites, I look foward to that! gotta go James

[jiminycricket81]

Hey again, Ive completed a basic site study on the Les Salines area and Mauritius in general that Id love to send you a copy of if you would like to have a look...Ive chosen to do a theoretical 'festival site' area on the waterfront there opposite the blue penny museum/ les suffren hotel. The site would feature a cafe district and weekly craft/ night markets and a permanant cafe/ night district. As I Understand its a pretty quite place at night at present and Im proposing it as a musical/ dance district, The theme of which would be sega. Im proposing it as part of a Creole community empowement project that provides a space for cultural expression of what appears to be (from my readings and research), a pretty marginalied community in Mauritius. If you have any information on that area you would like to share with me I would be so appreciative, the sort of things Id like to Know are why is it so barren so close to the city, was it an old dock yard area? does it flood in high tides/ big seas?, is it flat or a bit of a gradient into the ocean, how is the space currently percieved by the locals/ tourist, is the bay between blue penny and les salines used much and by who? what are the buildings currently used for- (looks like a storage shed for sugar) I understand the government is looking into introducing a met train system in port louis- Im also suggesting it takes a route through there and over the little bridge instead of down trunk road. If you have any pictures of this area, feel free to pass them on! This is a speculative project and the idea is to get us thinking and applying our knowledge to places we know very little about, Hope all is well on your side of the world, appologies on my sporadic communication, uni is very busy times!!! all the best and please dont feel obliged to reply to all I gratefull for your suggestions thus far! ill endevour to send the study on the attatchment potal on this site, though they are large files and may need an email address... ill let you know, cheers D, J

[Apostile]

thanks soooo much for your detailed reply, ill get back to you once ive checked out those sites, I look foward to that! gotta go James
Apostile