Firmin Viry
Musical artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Firmin Viry (born 11 March 1935) is a singer from Réunion known for maloya music. He was born in the Ligne Paradis neighborhood of Saint-Pierre.[1] Viry developed his musical talents while working in the sugar cane fields and fighting for the rights of fellow sugar-cane cutters.
Firmin Viry | |
|---|---|
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | 11 March 1935 |
| Genres | Maloya |
Early life and music
Firmin Viry worked as a sugar-cane cutter all his life between Saint-Pierre and Le Tampon. At 23, he made the instruments necessary for maloya, the bob, the roulèr, the kayamb, and the piker, thanks to Gustin Miza (a Mozambican).[2]
Activism
Close to the Réunion Communist Party at its foundation, Viry then proposed, according to Françoise Vergès, the first maloya sung and danced in public[3] in 1959, at the Rio cinema in Saint-Denis.[2] Firmin Viry led another relentless fight for the abolition of the ban on Maloya. When President François Mitterrand assumed power, he quickly lifted the ban.[4]
Controversy
In October 2009, Firmin Viry canceled the invitation for comedian Dieudonné to appear at the 20 December kabar to celebrate Réunion Freedom Day,[5][full citation needed] during which Dieudonné was to present a preview of his film Sans forme de politesse: regard sur la mouvance Dieudonné. A Paris screening of the film had also been canceled after the mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, objected, following repeated complaints against the comedian that his shows and media comments displayed antisemitism.[a] At the time Viry withdrew his invitation, penalties of a fine and compensation payable to community groups were imposed on Dieudonné for "public insult of people of Jewish origin or faith"; similar incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005 for which Dieudonné also had judgements against him in 2007 and 2008.[7]
Discography
- 1972: A nous même danser Maloya, Disques Jackman, 45 RPM.[8]
- 1976: Le maloya, Ediroi (PCR), 33 RPM.
- 1976: Peuple de la Réunion, peuple du maloya, Ediroi (PCR), 33 RPM. Participation of Firmin Viry with the troupe Résistance, the troupe Gaston Hoareau, and the troupe René Viry.[4]
- 1977: Le Maloya de la Réunion, Disques Jackman, 45 RPM.
- 1983: Ti crie a moin anin / Dimanche grand matin, Disques Issa, 45 RPM.
- 1989: Cent An Boner, SEDM Oasis Studio, Cassette.[9]
- 1998: Ti Mardé, Indigo.
- 1999: Ile de la Réunion: maloya, Ocora.
- 2006: Memwar in pep, Best Maloya.
- 2017: Maloya, Ocora.
Notes
- The title of Dieudonné's film is, in English, 'without any form of politeness: a look at the Dieudonné movement'. During his show J'ai fait le con, Dieudonné had brought Robert Faurisson, a promoter of Holocaust denial, on stage to award him "the prize of unacceptability and insolence" presented by an assisting comedian who was dressed as a Jewish deportee, all in front of Jean-Marie Le Pen and his wife.[6]
