For the very first episode of my podcast, ‘En Créa’—dedicated to creativity and entrepreneurship—I chose to host someone who has profoundly shaped my perspective on music and creativity: my father. A Malagasy musician who made his mark on the 70s and 80s, he is one of the pioneers of ‘Salegy,’ a musical style that has since become a staple of Malagasy culture.

A passion born in childhood:

• Early influences: At a young age, my father discovered music through artists like Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, and Michel Polnareff.

• Self-taught beginnings: At 11, his parents gifted him his first guitar. In the 1960s, with virtually no music schools in Madagascar, he taught himself by watching others play.

Salegy and the roots of Northern Madagascar:

• Musical identity: Over time, he developed a passion for Salegy, a rhythmic and highly energetic music genre from Northern Madagascar.

• Cultural advocacy: He helped popularize the style across the country with tracks like Biloubetananane. He also made the strong artistic choice to sing in the Antankarana dialect, native to the Antsiranana region (formerly Diego-Suarez), to highlight the identity of Northern Madagascar.

A decade of success: Between the ages of 20 and 30, my father achieved significant popularity in Madagascar with iconic hits such as Diego Suarez, Zambul B. Tananane, and Alleluia Amen. His songs, which explored daily life, human relationships, and the social realities of the time, forged a deep connection with his audience.

Leaving Madagascar, remaining an artist: After years of success, he decided to seek new horizons, traveling through England before settling in France, where he has lived for over forty years. In this conversation, he shares a deeply personal vision of art: to him, an artist remains an artist for life, even away from the media spotlight. The episode concludes with a discussion on legacy, transmission, and the importance of role models in fostering creativity.