Mauritius - Kaya

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In the early hours of the morning of Sunday 21 February 1999, Joseph Reginald Topize, better known as Kaya, was found dead in a high-security police cell.

His death brought Mauritius to a standstill but, more importantly, it revealed how important it is for the government to address potential racial tension.

Kaya was a popular Rastafarian singer, an important Creole figure known throughout the Indian Ocean islands and beyond. His group, Racinetatane, was responsible for launching séggae, a blend of reggae and séga, in the late 1980s.

In early 1999, the Mouvement Républicain (MR) began a campaign for the decriminalisation of cannabis smoking. On 16 February, a concert was held in support of the campaign and Kaya was asked to perform.

The following day, he and eight others were arrested for smoking cannabis in public. All but Kaya denied the charge and were released. Kaya admitted it and was sent to a high-security cell at Line Barracks, known locally as Alcatraz.

He was granted bail of Rs10,000 but his family could not raise the money. Surprisingly, the MR did not attempt to pay the bail, although Kaya had performed for free at their concert.

When his body was found in the cell, it was clear that he had died of head injuries and an autopsy later confirmed this. News of Kaya’s death, apparently a result of police brutality, swept through the island. Groups of protesters gathered, and by the afternoon there were widespread riots. Severe rioting continued for three days. Police stations were attacked and buildings set alight all over Mauritius. Hundreds of police officers and rioters were injured during the unrest, many by gunshot wounds. Several people were killed.

News of Kaya’s death spread to Réunion too, where I was living at the time, and I vividly remember the anger amongst the Creole population there.

The unrest in Mauritius began to take on a political and racial tone. Creoles vented their frustration at what they considered to be their disadvantaged position in society and rebelled against the Indo-Mauritian-dominated authorities.

Something positive did come out of Kaya’s death – it forced politicians to acknowledge the discontent of the Creole community and a government department was set up to address their concerns. The events were a reminder that Mauritius’s ethnic cocktail, which is an asset in so many ways, can also be an explosive mixture. It seems that politicians have learnt their lesson and realise that constant efforts must be made to listen to and involve all communities.

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Mauritius - Kaya

History

Mauritius - Kaya