Sesenne
Encyclopedia
Dame
Marie Selipha Descartes (28 March 1914 – 11 August 2010), best known as Sesenne, was a Saint Lucia
n singer and cultural icon.
, the youngest of five children born to a subsistence farmer and his wife. She spent most of her time as a child with her maternal aunt, known locally as "Ma Chadwick". Her aunt, also her godmother, developed a strong sense of spiritual devotion and a commitment to the Catholic faith in the young Sesenne.
Sesenne became a locally renowned singer of traditional Saint Lucian music
as a young girl. It was her father who, together with his wife holding the title "La Rose King and Queen"
, first introduced her to the public. He had plans to start a La Rose group in the Micoud area and needed a lead singer.
Sesenne was around eight years old when chosen lead singer of the new group. Sesenne says of her unique voice at the time: "Everyone was envious of my voice... when I sang I could be heard in Malgretoute." She was also an accomplished dancer of many styles, including the ring, kontwidance, konte, commette, belair and débot.
As a young artiste, she was hired by Grace Augustin, entrepreneur of a guest house called The Hotel, and Sesenne became the lead singer of a traditional band which entertained guests with the use of such traditional instruments as the chak-chak
, mandolin
, quatro
, banjo
, violin
and guitar
. Not many people know that Sesenne sang for both La Rose and La Marguerite groups. This may explain one of her most profound lines in one of her well-known songs: "My mother was a rose; my father was a marguerite, I myself, I am the roots of flowers."
She burst onto the regional scene on the stage Expo '67 in Grenada
; a precursor to the Caribbean Festival of the Arts, winning the Expo '67 contest with the song "Why".
Sesenne died in August 2010 in Mon Repos, Saint Lucia, at the age of 96.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
Marie Selipha Descartes (28 March 1914 – 11 August 2010), best known as Sesenne, was a Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
n singer and cultural icon.
Biography
Marie Selipha Descartes was born in La Pointe, Micoud, Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
, the youngest of five children born to a subsistence farmer and his wife. She spent most of her time as a child with her maternal aunt, known locally as "Ma Chadwick". Her aunt, also her godmother, developed a strong sense of spiritual devotion and a commitment to the Catholic faith in the young Sesenne.
Sesenne became a locally renowned singer of traditional Saint Lucian music
Music of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia, an island in the Caribbean, is home to many vibrant oral and folk traditions. The music of Saint Lucia is based on elements derived from the music of Africa, especially rhythmically, and Western Europe, dances like the quadrille, polka and waltz. The banjo and cuatro are iconic Lucian...
as a young girl. It was her father who, together with his wife holding the title "La Rose King and Queen"
La Rose and La Marguerite
The societies of Saint Lucia are two historic associations on the Antillean island country of Saint Lucia, La Woz and La Magwit...
, first introduced her to the public. He had plans to start a La Rose group in the Micoud area and needed a lead singer.
Sesenne was around eight years old when chosen lead singer of the new group. Sesenne says of her unique voice at the time: "Everyone was envious of my voice... when I sang I could be heard in Malgretoute." She was also an accomplished dancer of many styles, including the ring, kontwidance, konte, commette, belair and débot.
As a young artiste, she was hired by Grace Augustin, entrepreneur of a guest house called The Hotel, and Sesenne became the lead singer of a traditional band which entertained guests with the use of such traditional instruments as the chak-chak
Shak-shak
The shak-shak is a kind of Antillean musical instrument, similar to maracas. They are played in Barbados, Montserrat, Grenada and elsewhere in the Caribbean...
, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, quatro
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Not many people know that Sesenne sang for both La Rose and La Marguerite groups. This may explain one of her most profound lines in one of her well-known songs: "My mother was a rose; my father was a marguerite, I myself, I am the roots of flowers."
She burst onto the regional scene on the stage Expo '67 in Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
; a precursor to the Caribbean Festival of the Arts, winning the Expo '67 contest with the song "Why".
Sesenne died in August 2010 in Mon Repos, Saint Lucia, at the age of 96.
Honours
- British Empire MedalBritish Empire MedalThe Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
(B.E.M.), 1972 - Dame Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE), 2000