KAYA
DAY 2026
The second annual celebration of KAYA, the king of seggae. From Mauritius to Réunion, opening with the RAS NININ FET KAYA concert.
La voix des mauriciens.
On 10 August, the day Joseph Réginald Topize was born, Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean celebrate the man known as KAYA, the creator of seggae.
The
release
Le
communiqué
Come dive into KAYA's world: his archives, his music, his sound.
On 10 August, the day Joseph Réginald Topize was born, Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean celebrate the man known as KAYA, the creator of seggae. KAYA DAY returns for its second year at the Caudan Arts Centre, led by the cultural label BABANI with the KAYA Estate. It is a memory day, with seggae playing all day, and it is open to all. This year the celebration opens with a concert, RAS NININ FET KAYA, the first official concert from the KAYA Estate, on 25 July. The idea is simple: to bring Mauritius to the world.
Who was
KAYA
Qui était
KAYA
In Mauritius, KAYA is a name spoken with the same reverence as Fela Kuti or Bob Marley. He was the island's musical conscience, la voix des mauriciens, the voice of Mauritians. A Rastafarian poet who rose from humble beginnings, his music carried a message of identity, unity and pride. His life was cut short in 1999, and he remains an enduring symbol of freedom and belonging, la voix de la liberté.
What is
seggae
Qu'est-ce
que le
seggae
Seggae is the genre KAYA created. It is not a subgenre of reggae but a parallel evolution, a sound as unique to Mauritius as bossa nova is to Brazil. Born in the late 1980s, seggae is a powerful fusion of the militant soul of Jamaican roots reggae with the spiritual, triple-beat rhythm of the island's traditional sega. Sung in Mauritian Creole, it is the sound of an island, the raw, authentic voice of the Indian Ocean.
The roots of a legacy. The early sound of seggae first took shape when KAYA's talent was brought into the studio by producer Percy Yip Tong, who recorded his formative work through Cyper Produktion. These first sessions captured the raw energy that would define the genre's foundation.
Henry
Koombes
Alongside the sound, seggae developed a powerful visual identity, largely shaped by one artist: Henry Koombes. A Mauritian artist, militant and passionate music lover in his own right, also known as a reggae and dub selecta, Koombes was a constant creative force who collaborated with KAYA across different eras. His vibrant cover art became synonymous with the movement. His work is a testament to the BABANI ethos of 50% music, 50% visuals, where cultural heritage must be seen as well as heard.
visual identity: Henry Koombes · original artwork & design direction · see the full body of work →
The path
forward
La voie
à suivre
For over 25 years, KAYA's legacy has been fragmented. The mission of KAYA DAY and the wider archival work is to heal that fragmentation. Acting in good faith with KAYA's family, BABANI works with one goal: to let KAYA shine. The world needs to hear this music and know this story.
KAYA DAY
2026
KAYA DAY
2026
RAS NININ
FET KAYA
FET KAYA is the celebration, the first official concert from the KAYA Estate, carried by RAS NININ with the support of KOMKIFO. RAS NININ celebrates KAYA through songs from his repertoire, carried by the energy of seggae. A collaboration between Mauritius and Réunion.
KAYA DAY
the day
A day of memory, given to listening to and promoting seggae, the music KAYA created. Seggae plays all day, and his archives, photos, cassettes and stories keep his memory alive. Open to all.
RAS
NININ
A Mauritian artist, RAS NININ extends the spirit of seggae with consciousness, simplicity and depth. Since his first album Obzervé with the Kool Kreol Band, his songs observe society, everyday life, family and love. His journey has echoed beyond Mauritius: he has performed in Réunion, notably at IOMMa, and is signed to Red Island Records, a Réunion label.
BABANI
The name BABANI refers to the state of trance reached in a ceremony invoking ancestral spirits. In that spirit, BABANI acts as a collective focused on the transmission of the cultural heritage of the Indian Ocean islands. Founded by Avneesh Bacha, BABANI is the cultural initiative and record label from Bōucan Road Studios. Its mission is to restore and preserve the region's rich history through music, art and film. Operating on a 50% music, 50% visuals ethos and a principle of fair collaboration, BABANI is the handshake from the Indian Ocean to the world.
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Led by the KAYA Estate with BABANI · in partnership with KOMKIFO & Kréol Art (Réunion) · powered by ë