Hum Tum, Katrinile, Oka mata Oka pata, Sofe Ravanne, Jori N° 1... The MBC, through its various initiatives, has contributed to unveil a hoard of local talents. We now know that, despite being entangled in a complex educational web, our youths find the necessary time to devote to performing arts and to attain perfection in them. Week after week, the telly has been screening these talents who have nothing to envy from Debojit, Vinnit or any other foreign artist!

These local artists need our support and the patronage of the Ministry of Arts and Culture to further excel in their field. It's not the resources that we lack: we have a number of schools and institutions specializing in music and the arts, such as the MGI, R. Tagore Institute, IGCIC, and various conservatoires de musiques, etc. But what our local artists lack is public exposure and on-stage practice or experience, which is the stepping stone to an exciting career in professional singing, dancing and arts performance. To achieve this, our mindset needs a radical change.

How many of us are prepared to spend up to Rs 3 000 for a ticket to watch a foreign artist live, but we expect a show by local artists to be free! What is so special about these foreign singers coming here almost every month that our locals cannot? Why the craze about foreign artists who tend to exaggerate in front of the mauritian public? The finalists of the MBC Jori N° 1 competition fare as good as any Debojit or Vinnit, if not better. So why not give our youths the opportunity to perform regularly in our stadiums and other centres and let them have a fair share of tickets proceeds?

Being an artist is a form of entrepreneurship. Our artists can aspire to an international career. Currently, once these popular MBC competitions are over, the participants fall back into anonymity and there is no follow up on their talent. If we don't give them the necessary tools, facilities and opportunities to learn, improve and upgrade their skills, then the whole exercise of identifying such talents through TV competitions will go waste.

Local event management companies should start promoting shows and events where local artists are recruited to perform. The Mauritian public should start valorizing local talents, appreciate them and encourage them in their endeavour through a strong willingness to pay for any such local shows. Our local artists deserve our support and recognition for their hard work.

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