Firmin Viry

Firmin Viry (born 11 March 1935) is a singer from Réunion known for maloya music. He was born in the Ligne Paradis neighborhood of Saint-Pierre. Viry developed his musical talents while working in the sugar cane fields and fighting for the rights of fellow sugar-cane cutters.

Early life and music

Firmin Viry worked as a sugar-cane cutter all his life between Saint-Pierre and Le Tampon. At 23, he made the instruments necessary for maloya, the bob, the roulèr, the kayamb, and the piker, thanks to Gustin Miza (a Mozambican).

Activism Close to the Réunion Communist Party at its foundation, Viry then proposed, according to Françoise Vergès, the first maloya sung and danced in public in 1959, at the Rio cinema in Saint-Denis. during which Dieudonné was to present a preview of his film . A Paris screening of the film had also been canceled after the mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, objected, following repeated complaints against the comedian that his shows and media comments displayed antisemitism. At the time Viry withdrew his invitation, penalties of a fine and compensation payable to community groups were imposed on Dieudonné for "public insult of people of Jewish origin or faith"; similar incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005 for which Dieudonné also had judgements against him in 2007 and 2008.

Discography 1972: A nous même danser Maloya, Disques Jackman, 45 RPM. 1976: Le maloya, Ediroi (PCR), 33 RPM. 1976: Peuple de la Réunion, peuple du maloya, Ediroi (PCR), 33 RPM. Participation of Firmin Viry with the troupe Résistance, the troupe Gaston Hoareau, and the troupe René Viry. 1977: Le Maloya de la Réunion, Disques Jackman, 45 RPM. 1983: Ti crie a moin anin / Dimanche grand matin, Disques Issa, 45 RPM. 1989: Cent An Boner, SEDM Oasis Studio, Cassette. 1998: Ti Mardé, Indigo. 1999: Ile de la Réunion: maloya, Ocora. 2006: Memwar in pep, Best Maloya. 2017: Maloya, Ocora.