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

What's up in Mauritius in May 2024? Discover our selection of events, from Mother's Day markets, concerts, conferences and open-air cinema. Here's your May events calendar, you're about to have an amazing month!!

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May 3rd & 4th • Moris Orkestra @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

The Moris Orkestra (Le M.O.) is a young orchestra of thirty musicians, either professionals or undergoing professional training as orchestral musicians, whose aim is to develop music in Mauritius. The Moris Orkestra is organizing its 2nd Orchestra Academy, supervised by 18 Moris Orkestra musicians and directed by conductor Sébastien Taillard, with the participation of Anne Ga, Mélanie Pérés and Cholo Trio.

7:30pm • Rs500 to Rs1200
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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May 3rd & May 24th • Conference-debate "Tasting the importance of water" @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

Enjoy an unusual and refreshing experience through our tasting of flavoured and scented waters, inspired by the exhibition "Au fil de l'eau et du temps". During these informal sessions, Glenn Espinosa and the Sol Natal collective will engage in a discussion on the diverse practices of water consumption. Water is not only a consumable material, it is also a muse for artists, magnified in the works of creators. Join us for this convivial moment and appreciate the beauty of this essential resource, seen through an artistic prism.

3pm to 4pm • Free entry
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Saturday, May 4^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 centre. It's a two-part workshop: a reading session for toddlers of the book "C’est l’histoire d’un loup" by Nancy Guilbert, followed by a parenting workshop on the theme "How do you introduce new foods to young children?".

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

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Saturday, May 4th • Music Performance "Vibrotanica" @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

Plants are sensitive receptors, large antennae that perceive all changes in their environment. Jérôme Li-Thiao-Té, a multi-disciplinary artist known under the pseudonym J3ZZ, has drawn on this fascinating natural ability to create Vibrotanica. This artistic project explores the relationship between plants and sound, using biosonification techniques. Through this immersive show combining organic sounds, experimental jazz and electronics, discover the beauty and complexity of sound vibrations emitted by plants. The show, conceived as a musical dialogue between the artist and the plants, is a veritable hymn to nature's hidden symphony.

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

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Saturday, May 4th • Open-air cinema screening "Magic Mike XXL" (English - FR subtitles) @Domaine de Labourdonnais, Mapou

It's been three years since Tampa-based Mike Lane transitioned from the life of a stripper - his stage name being Magic Mike - to his dream of starting his own custom furniture business, those three years mixed in terms of the goods and bads for him personally. His ex-troupe, the Kings of Tampa, minus who was their boss, Dallas, stop off in Tampa from their current home base in Miami on a road trip to a stripper convention in Myrtle Beach. As the remaining troupe members are nearing the end of their stripping lives, they, like Mike, who are at an advanced age beyond that of most strippers, they see this convention as their final hurrah in this life.

7pm to 9pm • Rs125 to Rs1000
Info & Booking: www.cinesouslesetoiles.cinema.mu

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Monday, May 6th • Clay therapy session @Green Village, Coteau Raffin

Join us for our special session at The Green Village in their peaceful and natural setting. We invite you to come and discover new ways of gaining personal insight and developing new coping skills through the creative process of clay therapy. In this special session, we will combine clay with biodegradable materials found in Nature. Hence participating in the sustainable revolution.

‍4pm to 6pm • Rs2000 including Materials, tea break, pizza margarita + salad
Info & Booking: thegreenvillagemu.com

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Monday, May 6th • 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 songwriter, guitarist and singer Loïc Morin (Wayo), artist and movie director Kentin Denoyelle, songwriter and painter Christophe Rey, and Corinne Fleury, co-founder of the publishing company "l'Atelier des Nomades" and children's book author. 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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Thursday, May 9th • Diner-conference "A table avec... Me Satyajit Boolell" (FR) @Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, Port Louis

Senior Counsel and former Director of Public Prosecutions, Me Satyajit Boolell will share his expertise on the theme "Institutions: safeguarding democracy since independence."

6:30pm • Rs1,500 including conference and refined dinner
Info & Booking: 2024070 or bc.concierge@labourdonnais.com

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Saturday, May 11th • Mother's Market @Quartier des Serres, Domaine de Labourdonnais

Join Quartier des Serres market in celebrating Mother's Day! Don't miss out on this opportunity to find the perfect gifts and treats for your mom,  40 artisans await you with their unique products.

10am to 4pm • Free entry
Info & Booking: www.facebook.com/events/1681041655970584

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Saturday, May 11th • Music festival "La Isla 2068" @Chateau de Labourdonnais, Mapou

The island's most vibrant festival, curated by the Isla Social Club, returns on Saturday, May 11th, boasting an electrifying lineup across three stages. Prepare for twelve hours of non-stop music, from noon until midnight, all set against the enchanting backdrop of Château de Labourdonnais! This year, the LA ISLA 2068 festival is expanding further, featuring an outstanding international lineup along with the finest talents from the Mauritian new wave, all showcased across three stages for the very first time: Pfel & Greem [From C2C], Alligatorz, Lisa Ducasse, Blakkayo, Eat My Butterfly w/ Jad Airr, Damien Elisa [Seggae Experience], Kan & friends...

12pm to 12am • Rs1000 to Rs2000, free for children under 12yo
Info & Booking: otayo.com

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Sunday, May 12th •  Instrumental concert "Best of Strings go Pop" @Caudan Art Centre, Port Louis

In the context of their 10th year anniversary, Ensemble 415 is taking to the stage with a Best Of Strings Go Pop 1 and 2! Come and enjoy some of the most beloved pop tunes in their instrumental version. A treat that music lovers are sure to enjoy!

4:30pm to 6:15pm • Rs500 to Rs700
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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Friday, May 17th • Recital "Autour de Fauré" @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

This recital, combining voice, cello and piano, celebrates Gabriel Fauré, one of France's greatest composers, on the centenary of his death. A master of the Mélodie française, a genre that combines poetry and music, he wrote over a hundred melodies for voice and piano, based on texts by Paul Verlaine, Charles Baudelaire and Victor Hugo. On this musical evening, three exceptional performers will bring his works to life in a series of duets and trios, testifying to the depth and beauty of his repertoire. Renowned mezzo-soprano Caroline Villain combines her expressive voice with the virtuosity of Anne Chauveau, a cellist trained at London's Royal College of Music, and the talents of Kenneth Babajie, a pianist acclaimed by the Royal School of Musics.

7pm • Rs500
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Friday, May 17th • Conference by Frederic Lenoir @Institut Mahatma Gandhi, Moka

Unlock the mysteries of happiness with Frédéric Lenoir, esteemed philosopher, sociologist, and celebrated author, as he delivers an enlightening discourse titled "The Road to Happiness and Joy". The lecture will be succeeded by a question and answer session, culminating in a book signing. The evening guarantees a captivating mix of emotion and entertainment, kicking off with an opening recital by the renowned French soprano and opera singer, Nathalie Manfrino.

7:30pm • Rs1000
Info & Booking: otayo.com

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May 17th & 18th • Food festival "Gourmet Experience" @Quartier des Serres, Domaine de Labourdonnais, Mapou

Since 2014, the culinary festival Gourmet Experience has delighted food enthusiasts across Mauritius with a tasting-focused eating format. As they celebrate their 24th edition, expect an exquisite variety of pop-up restaurants and bars, family-friendly vibes and live music.

Friday, May 17th • 6:30pm to 11:45pm
Saturday, May 18th • 5:30pm to 11:45pm
Rs500, free for children under 12yo
Info & Booking: otayo.com

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Saturday, May 18th • Children's book reading "Une chouette bibliothèque" (FR) @Institut Francais, Rose Hill

Once upon a time, there was a library that only opened at night... Surrounded by three very cute assistants, a funny little librarian comes up with ingenious solutions to satisfy all the readers. A touching story about the pleasure of reading, featuring sweet and funny animals in magnificent three-colour illustrations. An album that will captivate young and old alike.

10am • Free entry
Info & Booking: www.institutfrancais.mu

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Sunday, May 19th • Balad dan Moka: walk to Minissy Waterfall @Moka

Ready for another "Balad dan Moka" (Hike in Moka)? This month, the team from Keep the Pace team takes you to Minissy Waterfall! A great occasion to meet new friends and discover new views of Mauritius.

8:30am to 12:30am • Free
Info & Booking: www.mokamwad.mu

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Friday, May 31st • Musical "A Million Dreams" (FR/CR)

A Million Dreams Mauritius brings to life the captivating tale of Phineas Taylor Barnum, who revolutionised the American circus and created the famous « Greatest Show on Earth » in 1842. Wanting to create a unique and extravagant circus, Barnum gathered a diverse group of performers, often considered outcasts by society, to showcase their extraordinary talents and entertain the public. It is a show about acceptance, inclusion, and the pursuit of dreams. It is a celebration of individuality, resilience, and the power of imagination. The amateur troupe A Million Dreams Mauritius is made up of twenty-five dedicated, talented and highly motivated performers.

7:30pm to 9:30pm • Rs600
Info & Booking: www.caudanartscentre.com

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