Bouzé, the Indian Ocean hip-hop festival founded by Kenjee Kennedy, returns August 13–16, featuring some 50 performers and representing at least ten countries. “For the first time, we’re welcoming an artist from Botswana.” , says the creator of the Wake Up Sessions, which have brought to the forefront the leading beat killers from Mauritius! Dominique Bellier
Kenjee Kennedy is strengthening Indian Ocean hip hop by allowing dancers to shape their movements to the music of their choice— from dancehalland Afrobeat to more traditional styles, such as Mauritian sega and Malagasy salegy! By creating the “Choose Your Style” category alongside breaking—the supreme discipline—he opens up a world of possibilities, allowing artists to express themselves through an even more unique sound…
For this 4thth edition of the Indian Ocean Championship Finals, Zillien is taking on the challenge in this second category. Fans know him alongside his twin brother, Zillio, as part of the dynamic duo Dreadly Twins. These two don’t even need to look at each other to coordinate their moves, and they have over 360,000 followers on TikTok. In breakdancing, the incredibleB-BoyDavid represented Mauritius in Ghana in November 2025, and he could keep the momentum going… since he’s qualified again this year.
In addition to the islands in the region, competitors also come from the mainland: from Zimbabwe, Djibouti , South Africa,Botswana… and perhaps even Gabon and Togo ! Since 2010, Kenjee Kennedy has organized nearly 300 Wake Up Sessions across Mauritius, sometimes attracting as many as 400 participants! Yet he expresses a hint of weariness: “Despite hip-hop’s immense influence and potential here, there’s a problem with passing it on : not enough dancers, not enough support!”
For more information, visit wakeupmauritius.com and @wakeupsession on Facebook.
