RFI Musique - - Réunionnais music - Danyel Waro, selfless maloya

Danyel Waro, selfless maloya

An award and a double album

Paris

15/09/2010 -

Danyl Waro is soon to be crowned by international music professionals at the world music expo, Womex. The singer from Réunion continues to confirm his dependable maloya musician status with a new album, Aou Amwin.

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RFI Musique: At the end of October, you are set to receive the Womex Artist Award 2010 in Copenhagen. What does this distinction mean to you?
Danyel Waro: I’m not particularly keen on prizes or this kind of recognition, especially when they come from an institution. In this case, I’m pleased to see that it comes from professionals who are following what I do to some extent. It’s a way of encouraging what we’re doing and the work of those combating to promote our culture and history – what makes us rich. I’m happy to share this award with the Réunionnais, who’ve been supporting us for a long time.

Over the years, you have almost become an institution of Réunionnais music. Do you find that a heavy load to bear?
At one point, I did feel it was heavy because I wasn’t solid and at peace enough myself. Over time, I’ve come to realise that I do what I do not for other people, but to free and heal myself. It’s my way of expressing myself, and it’s not a victim’s journey, it’s a free person’s journey. A lot of people who really like what I do don’t know what I think. They are happy enough with my maloya, with dancing and singing. And so in return, I’m not as demanding as I was. I used to have a fairly political approach and look for results, like a politician out for votes. But I’ve understood that there is no great liberator and I no longer believe in a moment of truth.

What meaning do you attach to the title of your album Aou amwin, which means “from you to me” in Creole?
Aou amwin is my relationship with others. I’ve always sung emotions in relation to stories I’ve had with particular, living people. The song Sapel la mizer includes about a hundred names that I wanted to put in because we all went through the same emotions before, during and after the fire walking festival. It’s important for me to relate what I experience with other people.

What exactly is the fire walking?
We fast for 18 days to walk on fire. Some people do it to ask for a favour or for someone to be healed. I do it more as a way of thanking. It’s always appealed to me. Not so much for the religious side, but because there’s a reassuring force in it. And in my songs I’ve touched on it in a lot of my lyrics, starting with Tine blouz in 81. It goes a lot further than lyrics, it’s poetry. Further than images. I hesitated a long time before doing the fire with people from Sapèl la mizèr at Villèle, but it was time for it and I think that I’m going to carry on fire walking with them.

You’ve crossed paths with a lot of artists during your career, but rarely struck up a partnership. What made you decide to take the plunge on this album?
Often, the move comes from the other person, who tends to be much more at ease than I am. I’m drawn more by a desire to do a gig and mix my voice with someone who’s up there making music. With A Filetta, it’s based on poetry, humanity, views, and their attitude, which I completely share. So that helps a lot. And I was attracted to Corsican polyphonies. But I don’t want to go running after music either. It knocks me off balance and drains me. To express myself I need to return to my family and tranquillity. I need to have a different approach than music.