Zul Ramiah: The Voice of Commitment Elevated to MSK

Zul Ramiah, whose real name is Jean-Georges Ramiah, has been honored with the title of Member of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (MSK). This recognition celebrates a lifetime devoted to Mauritian music. "It's an honor to be acknowledged for my contribution. Without boasting, I believe I have added my part to the building of local music," the artist humbly shares.

Zul Ramiah's passion for music began in childhood, but his career truly took off at the age of 20. A devoted admirer of Kishore Kumar, he started by mastering Indian songs. "I didn't really understand Hindi, but I loved those songs. I learned them phonetically to perform with an orchestra," he recalls.

Alongside his passion, he has built a career as a civil servant, starting as a clerk and rising to Office Supervisor by the age of 51. This dual existence has shaped his art. "I was involved in active politics, but as a civil servant, I couldn't express myself freely. So, I chose to convey my thoughts through committed songs," he explains. Zul Ramiah was a significant figure in the music scene of the 70s and 80s, starting with the Grup kiltirel IDP and participating in the legendary first album of Grup Latanier, Krapo Kriye.

His repertoire, rich with around fifty songs and five albums, includes powerful tracks like 'Sirandann', 'Omaz Tou Bann Mama', 'Fer Atansyon', and 'Bizin Sanzman'. For him, music serves a noble mission: "It must raise awareness about values such as social justice, brotherhood, solidarity, and ecology. I strive to reconcile the message with entertainment."

As a former president of the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA), Zul Ramiah has always intertwined his art with his beliefs. In 1982, he lent his voice to a composition by Rama Poonoosamy, 'Sanzman'. Years later, in 2005, this piece evolved into 'Bizin sanzman' to represent the social alliance. Although he was long affiliated with the MMM, he is currently part of the Labour Party.

However, he emphasizes: "I did not highlight my political stance in my songs. I primarily addressed societal issues without issuing directives." Beyond politics, he takes pride in having contributed to the acceptance of sega music in all Mauritian households. At a time when this rhythm was sometimes overlooked, committed songs helped sega to "rant dan lakaz dimounn" and gain its rightful recognition.