michel legris

in 1972 he won sugar time, the competition between the sugar estates of mauritius, singing for mon loisir, the estate where he worked as a ferailler. the song was "mo capitaine". the island took the word and made it his name. he built the ravann as well as played it, holding both ends of the tradition at once.

michel legris was born in 1931 at rue prince de galles, rose-hill, the sixth of fifteen children. he married thérèse and they had thirteen children, and settled at haute rive. the drum and the song stayed close to the labour of his hands.

after mon loisir a professional life in music began. leading the étoile d'or, he became a cultural ambassador for mauritius: performing for la francophonie at the united nations in 1993, and touring china, india, france, réunion, rodrigues, australia and beyond.

he was a man of deep faith and social commitment, giving his stage to ngos and to causes for people with disabilities, for children and for sport. he advocated for the african cultural centre, today the nelson mandela cultural centre, and he championed the recognition of sega tipik as unesco intangible cultural heritage in 2014.

in 2007 the mauritian state made him a member of the order of the star and key of the indian ocean. he passed on 30 january 2015, at 83, and was carried to rest by the rhythm of the ravann, exactly as he had wished.