Deba is an ensemble consisting of 13 women, from the island Mayotte - a French overseas collectivity in the Indian Ocean. The group’s name also refers to the ceremonial songs and dances that are exclusively performed by women and girls. Deba are sung in Arabic and are based on mystical Sufi rituals. You can hear these songs in different locations on Mayotte - along the road leading to the airport as pilgrims return from Mecca, during a banishing ritual at Ramadan or when celebrating a festival. The accompanying dance is vibrant yet gracious. Dressed in beautiful frocks the women slowly rock back and forth to the rhythm played on hand drums. A soloist starts, the choir responds, with profundities about earthly and spiritual matters.

Prix France Musique 2009 -  Sélection WOMEX 2009

REFERENCES

Womad Charltonpark (UK), Festival of World sacred music - Fès (MA), Cité de la musique - Paris (FR), World sacred music - Uppsala (SW), Cankarjev dom - Ljubljana (SI), Brave festival - Wroclaw (PO), Festival musiques sacrées - Sylvanes (FR), Sfinks - Boechout (BE), Théâtre de Grasse (FR)...