Yaelle Trules (Réunion)

Yaëlle Trulès is a singer, actress, and television personality based in Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean whose Creole culture blends African, European, and South Asian influences. On the island she is known both for her music and for her work as a presenter on the local public television channel. She began her career as a backup singer before joining the casts of several musical productions, including a French-language production of The Lion King. She has released two albums, Salonde T. (2009) and Losikré (2015), the latter earning her two Voix de l’Océan Indien Awards for Best Show and Best Music Video.

Featured Song:

“Zanako” (My Child) is an original song written by Trulès in Réunionnais Creole, a creole language rooted in French and shaped by the island’s African, Malagasy, and South Asian communities. A tender portrait of early motherhood, it captures the mixture of worry and wonder that comes with watching a small child grow. The word “zazakely” in the chorus is a Malagasy term of endearment for a young child. “If my heart is racing / It’s because you’re moving around all over the place / If I’m watching you like a hawk / It’s because you’re causing a bit of havoc / My little worry / You need to know that I love all of that too / My little boy / My child.”

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