Re-indigenise. De-colonise. Re-build. And Defend. With Us.
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alya isha and Insula's track 'diaSpoRia' made waves last year, picked up by BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing, Brixton Radio, Jamz Supernova, Mary Anne Hobbes, Caribombo, Asian Tones and Mango Masala. Now we are ecstatic to share the release of this jaw-dropping music video, filled with bold imagery of feminine, indigenous power and strength, and filmed in stunning natural and urban locales of Mauritius.
The track captures alya's journey of returning to her ancestral land for the first time, telling the story of how it felt meeting family for the first time in her mid-twenties, whilst also seeing firsthand how extractive neo-colonial practices still continue and formed the very foundations of this society which was built for the purpose of creating wealth in the West, off the labour and exploitation of Black and Brown bodies.
Celebrating our power, our connection to the land and the more-than-human, as we stand together to protect those we love. It is a return to an ancestral home, which many of us in the diaspora may have never had the opportunity to physically reach or to connect with.
The track was a collaboration with Reunionese producer Insula, whose work is an Afro-futurist fusion of Malagasy, maloya, and techno strains, blending culture, race and gender. Reunion, our neighbouring island has a similar story, but is still a French colony.
The majority of the 'diaSpoRia' music video filmed on alya's second visit to the island this year, in collaboration with some of the island's finest creative minds.
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CREDITS
Director, Creative-Director, Writer, Producer • Alya Minney AKA alya isha
MAURITIUS UNIT
DOP • pickdish
Drone Operator • Drone Of Paradise
Photography and Production Support • Karen Pang
Camera & Lighting Assistant • Helpful Stranger
Dancers • Lana Costance, Wenda Elephant
Sun Goddess • Sandrine
Ceremonial Women • Nabel Ah-Chong, Tree
Hair and Makeup • Joanne Christin
Designers and Styling • Kevin Armoogum & Nabel Ah-Chong
Production Assistant • B E Sébastien Toussaint
Runner • Kevin Armoogum
Props • Sunveek Gobin
With the kind support of Ocean Vibration and footage.film for the underwater footage.
footage.film/39-mauritius-stock-video-footage
Equipment with thanks to Papaya
LONDON UNIT
DOP • Elliot Kennedy
AC • Recel Tonelada
AD/Line Producer • Jessica May
Production Design • Christine Cave, Xinyi Du
Prop Makers • Tabitha Odutayo, Piper Ashworth
Stylist & trousers • Sapna Patel
Photo Retouch • Sandra Potoczanin
Mask Maker • Kyle Alexander
Makeup • Tetiana Kurtyniuk
Hair • Charis Smith-Halvorsen
Flowers • Demi Anderson
Necklace • Sarah Haly
Camera Trainee, Production Assistant • Valentina Gonzalez
Spark Trainee • Ibiwunmi Balogun
Production & Lighting Assistant • Mos Hannan
Extra Hands • Orlando Bryant
Location • Bar Etica, Andres Posada
With thanks to Focus Canning and SHL London for equipment.
POST PRODUCTION
Editor • alice demaria
Colour Grader • Ryan Phillips
2D Illustration & Animation • Thanh Tran
3D Composition • Drone Of Paradise
Title Animation • Age Of Mellow
Title Graphic • Pinko Blue
Photo edit • Alya Minney
Special thanks to:
Karen Pang
Avneesh Bacha
Matt Pakulski
Uma Burrenchobay
Bernard Rousselin
Kan Chan Kin
Florence Drachsler
Sarah Honore
Jean Christopher William Favory
Leanne Ladbury
Samara Addai
Hollie Mapp
Jatin Ramlowat
A Peng Production
Track written and performed by alya isha X Insula
Released by FPE Records
- LYRICS -
If u wana take my island
U gon have to come n fight us
Said we been through all the colonisers
Got our own who test and try us
U people throwing trash up in our mangrove
And we keep planting so our coasts don’t erode
No one owning, we belonging to the land
You know they coming with they other plans
I
Only met my people now
I
Never touched my land till now
U people wana sell my island
We got gold in form of skylights
Green and growing everywhere you look
I ain’t showing coz u want u took
Fool believing he be owning land
More foolish we who leave this wall of man
Strong we are when we gon take a stand
Build a world on justice she’ll be ran
I
Only met my people now
I
Never touched my land till now
Child of the colonised and the coloniser
Pieces of empire
Smashed before being melted together again
Children of the oceans
We reconnect to our roots
Mother Earth
Who feeds us all
We belong to no one
Free
Free
Free