Jaojoby, a leading figure in Malagasy salegy, celebrates 50-year career
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on RFI
Eusèbe Jaojoby, born in 1955 in Amboangibe in north-eastern Madagascar, recounts nearly 50 years devoted to salegy, of which he is one of the leading figures. He recalls his beginnings in Diego-Suarez and his training in traditional singing, according to RFI.
Eusèbe Jaojoby, a leading figure in Malagasy salegy, was born in 1955 in Amboangibe, in the Sambava region of north-eastern Madagascar. He says he discovered the microphone at the age of 15 in Diego-Suarez, before singing with Los Matadores, the resident band at the Le Saïgonais club, according to RFI.
Jaojoby explains that he subsequently helped popularise a style of salegy combining traditional Malagasy songs with modern Western instruments. He describes, in particular, a 6/8 rhythm accompanied by a circular dance inspired by the movements of zebus in rice fields, according to RFI.
The artist also worked as a radio journalist and received training in 1982 in East Berlin, then in the German Democratic Republic. He also served for a period as an adviser to the presidency, according to RFI.
Jaojoby says he hopes that the Malagasy people will join forces to combat environmental destruction. He cites deforestation and water shortages in particular among the problems facing Madagascar, according to RFI.
