April 2024 agenda: events you should not miss this month in Mauritius

There’s something for everyone this April in Mauritius, with jazz, blues and classical music concerts, cult movies open-air screening, kids events and workshops... Here’s New Horizon selection of events happening in Mauritius this month.

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Monday, April 1^st • Lundi c'est (p)arty (FR) @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

Every month, the Institut Francais (French Institute) presents local and visiting artists during an evening of artistic dialogue, performance and interaction. This month, you'll get to meet the writer Valérie Sana, the photographer & artist Audrey Albert, the singer Nabi (Christopher Jhureea) and the members of "Les Pas Perdus - L.E.S.P.A.S. Kolektif" Lucy Lagesse, Sarah Honoré and Guy-André Lagesse. The evening concludes with a convivial get-together over a drink with the speakers, in an atmosphere punctuated by the music of a DJ from La Isla Social Club.

6:30pm • Free entry
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Wednesday, April 3^rd  • Piano Concert "Tania Giannouli's Piano Dream" @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

A classically trained vessel driven by a universal soul embracing its fragility while exploring spaces between ideas through colourful sounds, triggering a range of passions and sighs at every note. Deeply inspired by different human musical traditions, the compositions and improvisations of Tania Giannouli (Greece) create borderless canvases of intentional harmonies and provide for an exhilarating as mind expanding experience. This event is brought to you by Mama Jaz Festival, the only festival in the southern hemisphere to dedicate a whole month to the celebration of Creative Music and Jazz.

8pm to 9:30 • Rs800
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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Thursday, April 4^th • Live concert "The Two" @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

No one foresaw the musical path that a Swiss and a Mauritian would forge, and the unexpectedness of this pairing has so far left a mark worthy of respect. With more than 800 concerts between 2015 and 2022, the duo has played at renowned festivals such as Montreux Jazz and the Festival de Jazz de Montréal, and opened for renowned artists (Johnny Hallyday, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, Charlie Winston). Drawing their influences from Blues, The Two wanted to move away from its "American" roots and explore its Creole facets. With their album Sadela, The Two delve into the Creole imaginary of the Indian Ocean. Recorded and arranged under the direction of David Donatien, it's a musical itinerary that explores Mascarene island blues, sega and maloya. After an opening performance by Michael Hermans Pierre-Louis, discover The Two in live performance accompanied by Christophe Bertin and Ben Watling.

7pm • Rs300
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Thursday, April 4th • Thomas Ngigol Stand-up Comedy "L’Œil du Tigre"(FR)  @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

Eye of the Tiger: oriental expression used to designate a particular gleam in the eye that seems to be the mark of an authentic warrior. In Chinese astrology, someone born under the sign of the Tiger is considered to be "fiery, dynamic, daring, impulsive, active, a bit of a kamikaze, taking unnecessary risks for the sake of pleasure and panache". This expression obviously doesn't fit Thomas Ngijol's profile, but it does, six years after "2", inspire him to return to the stage. After six months at the Théâtre Dejazet in Paris, a tour of over 40 dates across France in 2022 - 2023 and two sold-out Olympia shows last December, Thomas Ngijol is back for one last round.

8pm to 10pm • Rs2000 to Rs2500
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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Friday, April 5th • Open-air cinema screening "Quai d'Orsay" (FR) @L'aventure du Sucre, Beau Plan

As a young academic writing his thesis, Arthur Vlaminck is hired by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His job is to write the Minister's speeches! But he still has to learn to deal with the Minister's susceptibility and inner circle, and find a place for himself between the chief of staff and the advisors who gravitate in the Quai d'Orsay, where stress, ambition and dirty tricks are not uncommon.
Based on the comic strip by Christophe Blain and Abel Lanzac, published by Dargaud in 2010 and 2011.

Drink at 6pm, screening from 7:30 to 9:30pm • Free entry
Info & Booking: docs.google.com/forms

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Friday, April 5^th  • Concert "Live in Moka" with Vincent Brasse & Manu Desroches @Les Kocottes, Moka

Save the date! Live in Moka returns to Les Kocottes on April 5th! Prepare for an electrifying evening with not one, but two sensational headliners: Vincent Brasse will ignite the stage at 7:30 pm, followed by the mesmerizing melodies of Manu Desroches debuting his latest single at 8:30 pm! Indulge your palate with culinary delights from Yo l'artisan and Maikee Boulettes, promising to tantalize your taste buds with their exquisite offerings. And remember to bring along your cool box for added enjoyment throughout the night!

7pm to 10pm • Rs375
Info & Booking: www.otayo.com

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Saturday, April 6^th • "Toddlers' time" (FR) @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

'L'heure des Petits' is a monthly event for parents and toddlers (up to 3 years) in partnership with the Ébène midwifery center. It's a two-part workshop: a reading session for toddlers, followed by a parenting workshop on the theme "Creating a healthy environment for your child".

10am • Rs350
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Saturday, April 6^th • Labourdonnais Annual Fundraiser Golf Challenge 13th edition @Legend Golf Course, Belle Mare

Swing into action, golf lovers! The Annual Fundraiser Golf Challenge awaits at the Legend Golf Course, nestled within the enchanting Constance Belle Mare Plage. Unleash your swings, craft your finest shots, and tee off for a noble cause. Amidst thrilling contests, savour delicious culinary delights and win awesome prizes! Fund raised will be donated to SOS Village, igniting hope and change.‍

8am to 2pm • Rs3000 (golfers) Rs1800 (companion)
Info & Booking: www.facebook.com/events/336742965527672

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Saturday, April 6^th • Food market “Le Rendez-vous des Gourmands” @Quartier des Serres, Domaine de Labourdonnais

Immerse yourself in a vibrant market dedicated to local food artisans.

10am to 3pm • Free entry
Info: www.facebook.com/QuartierdesSerres

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Saturday, April 6^th • Classical concert "Islands of Harmony: A Musical Bridge Across the Seas" w/Murray McLachlan & Kathryn Page @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

Embark on an enchanting musical voyage with “Islands of Harmony: A Musical Bridge Across the Seas,” a concert that celebrates the fusion of British and Mauritian musical excellence. The concert will traverse a range of emotions and styles, featuring works by Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Ravel, Debussy, and Gregson. This is not merely a concert; it’s a journey through the rhythmic seas and melodic landscapes that connect these two island cultures. Witness the fusion of classical and contemporary, the blend of individual prowess and collaborative brilliance.

7pm to 9pm • Rs800 to Rs1200
Info & Booking: caudanartscentre.com

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Wednesday, April 10^th •  Jazz concert w/Days Order by Mama Jazz Festival @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

Happy and, seemingly, carefree, Christophe Joseph on drums & percussions, Vincent Nombro on keys and Jean-Jacques Valéry on bass journey collectively. This trio of creative energies is a juicy fruit of the Mauritian musical tree. All smiles and fun, with humble hearts, their instruments sing sincere original works that speak to all, intensely, subtly, surely. Days Order is born from MAMA KREASION, a residency program that MAMA JAZ started in 2019 to creatively stimulate Mauritian talents into performing at their highest potential while researching beyond Jazz and into Universal creation through sound to reach all audiences.

8pm to 9:15pm • Rs800
Info & Booking: caudanartscentre.com

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Thursday, April 11^th • "The Piano Festival" w/Murray McLachlan @Château de Labourdonnais, Mapou

Immerse yourself in the world of classical music with a thrilling lecture recital by the esteemed pianist Murray McLachlan at Château de Labourdonnais on April 11th. In this captivating lecture recital, Murray McLachlan will draw upon his extensive teaching experience nurturing talented young musicians at Chetham's International Summer School and around the globe. His talk, titled "Character is Destiny - Talent, Diversity, and Hard Work in Young Pianists," promises to be enlightening and inspiring. Throughout the lecture, Murray will perform a diverse repertoire to underscore the key points of his discussion.

6:30 to 8:30 • Rs1000 to Rs1200
Info & Booking: www.otayo.com

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April 12^th & 13^th • "The Piano Festival" w/Murray McLachlan & Kathryn Page @Moka

Experience an extraordinary evening with two renowned pianists, Murray McLachlan and Kathryn Page, featuring timeless compositions by Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Bach, Liszt, Debussy, and Griegson. But the magic doesn't stop there! Brace yourself for an enchanting evening, where the ethereal notes of five breathtaking nocturnes by contemporary female composers breathe new life into the genre.

On Friday, April 12th @Maison Eureka, Moka
On Saturday, April 13th @Audi Zentrum, Moka

7pm to 9pm • Rs1000 to Rs1200
Info & Booking: www.otayo.com

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Wednesday, April 17^th • Concert w/Sumrrá (Spain) by Mama Jaz Festival @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

Fierce and gentle, deep and light, grave and high, ancient and futuristic; the charisma, vitality and pure sound of this trio of tenured music masters, firmly rooted in their Galician principles and reaching far into wildest imaginations, make them an authentic grounding force. 3 musicians who have played together for 21 years. Their familiarity brings a cohesion that blends individual perspective into a sympathetic harmony. From Galicia in the northwest of Spain their music looks to contemporary composition and improvisation. The instrumentation is the classic jazz trio: piano – Manuel Gutierrez Iglesias; bass – Xacobe Martinez Antelo; and drums – LAR Legido.
This concert is brought to you by Mama Jaz Festival, the only festival in the southern hemisphere to dedicate a whole month to the celebration of Creative Music and Jazz.

8pm to 9:15pm • Rs800
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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April 19^th & 20^th • Folktale storytelling "Tizan Gato Kanet" (FR/CR) @Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis

Discover the famous local folktale of Tizan Gato Kanet (Tizan and his candy tree) through a blend of storytelling, performance and music. This is the magnificent tale of Tizan who plants a tree of Gato Kanet (candy marbles). In comes a witch whose sole aim is to, like all witches do, capture Tizan and eat him. Will she successful or will Tizan prove to be the smart one and get his revenge?

Friday, April 19th in French • 7pm
Saturday, April 20th in Creole • 2pm
Kids : Rs200, Adults : Rs350
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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Saturday, April 20^th • Open-air cinema screening "3 Idiots" (Hindi-ENG subtitles) @Ebene Recreational Park, Ebene

Cine Sous les Etoiles will be screening the Indian cult movie "3 idiots", the story of two friends searching for their long lost companion. They revisit their college days and recall the memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots".

7pm to 10pm • Rs190 to Rs390
Info & Booking: www.cinesouslesetoiles.cinema.mu

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April 20^th to 25^th • Teens workshop "Writing without writing" (FR) @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

A six-session workshop for young people aged 12 to 16, to create a new self-published fiction based on artificial intelligence. Kenneth Goldsmith, artist, writer and poet, postulates that "the world is full of texts, more or less interesting". He defends the idea that it is no longer necessary to create new texts, but rather to "learn to negotiate" the quantity of existing texts made available. Building on this approach, the aim of this workshop is to learn how to use the AI freely available on the Internet to create new writing narratives. Participants will learn not only how to wield AI to generate stories, but also how to see writing in a new light. With a humorous approach, this workshop offers young people an ideal space to express their creativity.

6 sessions • Rs1350
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Wednesday, April 24^th • Concert w/Manu Desroches by Mama Jazz Festival @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

LATER LESIEL! is a unique experiment harnessing Manu Desroches’ career momentum and artistic aspirations into what will be a Mauritian act of reference and relevance; earth and sky as one within a specific time in a dedicated space through bodies spirited and bright. This concert is brought to you by Mama Jaz Festival, the only festival in the southern hemisphere to dedicate a whole month to the celebration of Creative Music and Jazz.‍

8pm to 9:15pm • Rs800
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com