Sesenne

Dame Marie Selipha Descartes DBE, BEM (28 March 1914 – 11 August 2010),[1] best known as Sesenne, was a Saint Lucian singer and cultural icon.

Biography

Marie Selipha Descartes was born in La Pointe, Micoud, Saint Lucia,[1] 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 in her a strong sense of spiritual devotion and a commitment to the Catholic faith.

Sesenne became a locally renowned singer of traditional Saint Lucian music as a young girl. Her father held the title "La Rose King", and her mother served amongst his followers as queen. Using the influence that this aspect of her background afforded her, Sesenne first introduced herself to the public. Her father had plans to start a La Rose group in the Micoud area, and needed a lead singer to lead them in their seances.

Sesenne was around eight years old when she was chosen to be the lead singer of the new group. She 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 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".

Death

Sesenne died in August 2010 in Mon Repos, Saint Lucia, at the age of 96.[1]

Honours

Family

By the age of 18, Sesenne was well known in the Micoud area. She married Tennyson Descartes, a labourer of Micoud and the couple had seven children: five boys and two girls. They made their home in Mon Repos, La Pointe. At the time of her death, Sesenne had 34 grand children and 38 great-grandchildren.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Notice of death, Thedeadrockstarsclub.com; accessed 9 April 2016.
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