Soul Sega Sa, Vol. 2 (Indian Ocean Segas from the 70's)

There are few musical genres as colorful as sega, the kaleidoscopic result of hundreds of years of commerce, migration, and slave trade through the Indian Ocean. Formed on the shores of Mauritius, Réunion, and the Seychelles, sega music has its roots in the rhythms that arrived with the enslaved Africans brought over by the Europeans. Later European styles like the waltz were added to the mix, as well as melodies and modes from India and percussion from Cuba. In the ‘70s this already vibrant medley got a psychedelic re-work, with fuzzy guitars and the first experimental synths. This compilation by Bongo Joe is emblematic of this sun-drenched hotchpotch right from the opening track, with its traditional rhythms, Hawaii-stye guitars and a burst of squelchy, futuristic synths.