Mayotte: M’toro Chamou to launch new album in France

The album was released digitally on 26 April and will be distributed by InOuïe Distribution and Believe Digital.

Chamou says the album comprises old and new compositions. “I couldn't exactly say how long it took me to write this album because I'm constantly writing songs,” he told Music In Africa. “On this album, there are songs that I wrote and composed several years ago and others more recently, about two years ago.”

Each track on the album is a representation of Mayotte's culture and features instruments such as the ngoma, tari, guitar, banjo and harmonica.

“My inspiration, above all, is Mayotte in terms of the lyrical content and sound,” he said. “I am inspired by the traditional rhythms such as chengué, m'godro and the shigoma. Together, they form a wholly unclassifiable music style that I define as Afro-m’godro rock.”

Chamou hopes that the album will challenge the Mahorais people to embrace their rich cultural diversity as opposed to imitating Western trends.

“The message of this album is already in the title,” Chamou says. “Mayotte is a French-speaking country and we tend to want to erase our culture to identify with another and I think it's a mistake. It’s important to know who we are, what are our roots are, to exist as ourselves. I think that's how we will move in the right direction for our future as an African nation.”

Chamou says that the songs on the 10-track album will also challenge the listener to be more socially conscious. “My favourite song is 'Chengué Langu'. “The chengué is a traditional music genre that is very popular and has always brought the Mahorais together. My idea was to use it as common ground to deliver a message of unity to the Mahorais who are currently politically divided.

Chamou also featured a rapper on his lastest offering. “I featured Bo Houss on 'Kamariya', which I composed five years ago. When I first played with some musicians, he was there and we started improvising on it and I thought it was great. So about five years later, it was obvious that I had to invite him on the track.”

The 3 May album launch in Paris will feature the all-female traditional Deba group as the opening act. The group is considered a cultural ambassador from Mayotte.

“This concert is also a presentation of Mayotte to the French and I hope that it will make them want to discover more about Mayotte,” Chamou says. “The band of women will show the traditional side of the culture of Mayotte and I the modern side of it.”

Early this year, Chamou played at the 2019 edition of Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar. "It reminded me that I am at home,” he said. “I was happy to go to the great land of my ancestors, to share my music with people and to see that they were very receptive to my music. Now my biggest problem is that I would like to go back often.”

Listen to Sika Mila on Spotify.