The music's traditional form was largely improvised and intensely emotional and expressed the tribulations of a subjugated, initially enslaved, people.

For women this involves the use of large, colourful, circular skirts and short sleeved, sleeveless or off the shoulder tops bearing the mid riff to accentuate their moves.

Traditionally, men wear colourful shirts and shorts and straw hats are popular in the ancient styles.

Sega music originated among the slave populations of Mauritius and Réunion and later spread throughout the Seychelles.

[2] He states that it is similar to the fandango and chica (dance) from Brazil whose origins are in African music from Mozambique and Angola.

[2] A particularly big turning point was his performance at the Night of the Sega at Mount Le Morne on 30 October 1964.

[10] Sega is now popular across the islands of Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte and Rodrigues, along with parts of Madagascar.

Seggae musicians include Ras Natty Baby, Sonny Morgan and the man seen as being the founder, Kaya.

Kaya, whose real name is Joseph Reginald Topize, was at the height of his career in 1999 when he was found dead in a prison cell.

[14] The accordion groups of Rodrigues, segakordeon, include European folk dance music such as polkas, quadrilles, waltzes and Scottish reels.

These sega tambours are sung mostly by women and are danced only by one couple at a time, accompanied by clapping or the use of improvised percussion instruments like table legs and glasses.