U.S. Embassy Organizes Cultural Event in Mauritius and Rodrigues - Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience from Lafayette, Louisiana

July 26, 2007 

The U.S. Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Air Mauritius, and the Indira Gandhi Center for Indian Culture is pleased to announce educational workshops and public concerts with Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience.  This international group from Lafayette, Louisiana will hold educational workshops for Mauritian and Rodrigan students and public concerts from July 31 through August 8, 2007.  Following their tour in Mauritius and Rodrigues the group will continue their program in the Seychelles.

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will perform in Mauritius on the following dates: 

• Gala Show on Friday, August 3 at 19:00 at the Indira Gandhi Center for Indian Culture, Phoenix.  Tickets are available at the U.S. Embassy, 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis on a first come-first serve basis from Tuesday, July 31 to Thursday, August 2 between 12:00 and 14:00, and on August 3 between 10:00 and 12:00.  Tickets are also available at the Indira Gandhi Center for Indian Culture from Tuesday, July 31.

• Concert on Saturday, August 4 at 19:00 at the Open Air Theater, Pointe Canon in Mahebourg.  No tickets required.

Both concerts will feature international Mauritian artist Eric Triton.

The performance in Rodrigues is scheduled on Tuesday, August 7 at 19:00 at the Podium of Malabar and will feature the Eko Rod group.  Tickets are not required.

For information regarding the Education Workshops please contact Ms. Annick Joseph, telephone 202-4444 at the U.S. Embassy. 

Zydeco is one the most unique and wildly popular forms of American Roots Music.  A Southern music tradition that is revered all over the world.  It is the indigenous music of the French speaking Creoles of south west Louisiana. The core instrumentation is the accordion (diatonic-button & chromatic-key) and the frottoir (or rubboard).  The word Zydeco comes from the African word “zaico laga laga,” meaning “to dance.”

Terrance Simien, the president and lead singer of the group, and his Zydeco Experience ensemble are celebrating 25 years of recording and touring to over 40 countries.  A New “Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album” Grammy Voting Category has recently been established through the effort led by Terrance Simien and his fellow artists.   He is one of Louisiana’s most respected Cultural Ambassadors.