At first it sounds like carnival music. Something Brazilian, Hawaiian, or Jamaican but no, it's Mauritian. Sega music from Mauritius! It's a party just listening to itYou might not understand the lyrics, but the background shouting and whistling make it clear you’re listening to something fun and free.

It’s the kind of thing to listen to at the beach, jamming with musicians, sipping on cocktails and everyone just kind of goes with the rhythm and throws in an, ‘Ai! Ai! Ai!’ or ‘Aye! Aye! Aye!’ - and of course the whistling.

Sega (pr. Saygah) music goes as far back as the 1700s. It owes its origins to African slaves, the European polka dance music, and some musical instruments that have always been uniquely Mauritian. These instruments; the bobre, a long wooden bow arched over a gourd-like hollow fruit (calabash) by a string, the ravane, a hide pulled tight over a wooden circular frame, and the maravane a hollowed out calabash filled with stones and the triangle all combined to make the first form of sega. Now the traditional instruments are being replaced by more modern instruments while the music is getting mixed with genres like pop, rock and reggae.

The best way to get yourself acquainted with the music before you go to the island is to listen to Les Windblows. They were the biggest sega band in Mauritius and probably the most popular band in all of Mauritius before the members left for solo projects. Kind of like the Spice Girls before the reunion and with more street cred. Their music is easy to get into and although it was mostly sega, it had hints of seggae – a more popular mix of sega and reggae. You can still find their albums online.

A lot of venues on the island play hybrid forms of the music, sometimes even mixed with modern dance music which makes for a great night out. Check out the evening entertainment at the Island Sports Club hotel for a nightly sega show. The beaches are also great to listen out for the music played by cover bands and street musicians. The clubs in Grand Bay and Port Louis also play great music to dance to with some sega elements once in a while.

Don’t worry about the dancing. It’s the kind of thing you figure out while you’re already on the island. You just start by gently swaying your hips, and then as the music grows stronger you jerk your body a bit, matching the tempo. Before you know it, you’ll be shaking about spiritedly, without restriction. You will be very tired the next morning but who cares, it’s your Mauritian vacation and it’s satisfying to see how the rhythm and movement synchronise so seamlessly without brain effort.

When you go CD shopping in Mauritius look out for artists like Marie-Jose Clency and her husband, Roger Clency. They’re an institute unto themselves having been in the Mauritian music industry for over thirty years. Ask for the pioneer of seggae music Kaya who died in 1999 under suspicious prison conditions -an event that sparked three day riots and acts of rebellion. Get the music and start some mutiny of your own when you come back. You’ll just need some cocktails, a few friends and the music will immediately take you back to your holiday.

Find your island groove. Click here for Mauritius holiday packages.