Mily Clement is one of the originators of the contemporary form of ''
salegy
Salegy is a popular music genre from Madagascar. Originating as a Sub-Saharan African folk music style in the northwestern coastal areas of Madagascar, modern salegy is the genre of Malagasy music that has gained the widest recognition and comm ...
'', a
traditional musical style of the northern coastal areas of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
. He grew up surrounded by the music of the ''
tromba'' spirit possession ceremonies in his community, and in his teens he became influenced by American and African guitarists, inspiring him to begin playing guitar. He began professionally performing guitar with local bands in
Ambilobe
Ambilobe is an urban municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ambilobe, which is a part of Diana Region. The town is the capital of Ambilobe district, and according to 2001 census the population was approximately 56,000.
Ge ...
.
In 1988 he became a percussionist in the band of his contemporary,
Jaojoby, who had just begun to achieve nationwide acclaim. Jaojoby encouraged Clement to compose his own music. He was consequently invited in 1990 to provide music at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Island Games, attaining nationwide celebrity with the single "Tsy moramora mitady vola". The following year he performed on Afrovision. Stardom came when the International Conservation Organization selected his song, "Mandrora Mantsilany", to raise awareness of
deforestation
Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...
and
conservation
Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws.
Conservation may also refer to:
Environment and natural resources
* Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...
issues on the island.
[ Clement has not recorded albums internationally or become a frequent performer on the international festival circuit, but enjoys strong popularity in Madagascar as a classic artist of the salegy genre.][Anderson (2000), p. 526]
See also
*Music of Madagascar
The highly diverse and distinctive music of Madagascar has been shaped by the musical traditions of Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania, Arabia, England, France and the United States over time as indigenous people, immigrants, and colonists have ma ...
Notes
References
*
20th-century Malagasy male singers
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
21st-century Malagasy male singers
{{Africa-musician-stub