root salad Jérôme Galabert
The retiring founder of the Indian Ocean Music Market IOMMA talks to Bas Springer
F
or quite a few years now WOMEX has been one of the few interna- tional markets where world music artists could promote themselves, but this huge event with more than 2400 delegates is far from ideal if you prefer a more intimate and laid-back atmosphere. As a reaction to the hustle and bustle of WOMEX, in recent years new local music markets have been organised such as the Atlantic Music Meeting on Cape Verde, Visa For Music in Rabat (Morocco), English Folk Expo in Bury, UK, and IOMMA (Indian Ocean Music Market) on the island of La Réunion. Cultural entrepreneur Jérôme Gal- abert took the initiative to set up IOMMA, while simultaneously running the Safiko festival, also on La Réunion. As of this year he has relinquished his tasks.
Showcasing the musical diversity of the 23 countries which border the Indian Ocean is the main aim of IOMMA. La Réunion is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, some ten hours flight from Paris. In recent years this world music market has positioned itself at the crossroads of the music industry in the Indian Ocean, bringing together local and international delegates from the region. Collaborating instead of competing is the keyword used by Réunion- born Jérôme Galabert, who started IOMMA six years ago. He explains :
“If you wanted to promote music from La Réunion in the past there was only one link, which led to mainland France, the so- called North-South relation. Musicians from Mauritius and South Africa were facing the same problem. When it came to music there were hardly any South-South relations. So the idea was to increase the relations in the Indian Ocean. By creating a market for the Indian Ocean we stimulate the collabora- tion between producers, artists, festival, venues and journalists. Everyone involved in the music industry in the Indian Ocean can benefit from this collaboration.”
IOMMA fits perfectly in the new con- cept of more intimate music markets. This year’s fifth edition was held in the lovely seaside resort of Saint Pierre. The market, a partnership between the French organisa- tion Scènes Austral, the European Union and the Regional Council, brought together more than 200 local and international festi- val organisers, promoters, artists, managers and journalists, discussing actual topics dur- ing day time and attending music showcases at night.
Galabert says that “We are building our own internal market to promote the music from the Indian Ocean and enable artists to
get exposure and to export themselves to major new markets throughout the world. IOMMA also offers help to Indian Ocean entrepreneurs and companies to find new markets within the region and worldwide. We also need to keep IOMMA small, I don’t want IOMMA becoming a new WOMEX or Babel Med”.
W
hat developments have taken place since the first edition in 2011? “We have seen many artists touring as a result of
IOMMA, for instance Christine Salem, Maya Kamaty and Simangavole. Another good development this year is the collaboration between festivals in South Africa, Swazi- land and La Réunion. And then there is the founding of a conference network between AME, Visa For Music (Rabat), Babel Med (Marseille) and IOMMA. Linking those markets reassures the future of these events. The advantage of IOMMA is that people get to know each other very well. Trust and confidence are necessary to increase the exchanges. The biggest obsta- cle is always money. The major funder is the European Union and the negotiations always take a lot of time.”
“IOMMA can still grow a bit but not too
much. We have to guard the quality levels. IOMMA and La Réunion also have to share more knowledge with countries like Mada- gascar, Mauritius, Comoros and Mozam- bique. If we don’t share our expertise that will mark the end of IOMMA in future.”
Besides running IOMMA Galabert has been director of Sakifo, a great festival held immediately after IOMMA. The music at this year’s thirteenth edition, held at a park near the beautiful beaches of Saint Pierre, ranged from local maloya artists to such international acts as Baaba Maal and Macy Gray.
Galabert recently took some decisions regarding his future. “As of this year we have a new director and programmer for Sakifo and a new director for IOMMA. Now I am able to pass my expertise to Zakifo, a new festival in Durban I am involved with. I’m 49, still young, but I cannot programme for the rest of my life. I’m more than pleased with my new role. It’s good I trans- fer my tasks now and not when I’m 60. It will give me more freedom and enable me to learn from other people.”
http://iomma.net F 19 f
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
