Event

The Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) invites members of the Campus community to a virtual lunchtime seminar featuring a screening of Towards Ether, an Indo-Mauritian music video by French-Mauritian singer-songwriter and filmmaker Ched William, followed by an artist conversation with Ched William and Shamila Ramsewak, moderated by Dr. Gabrielle Jamela Hosein.

Blending fiction with documentary footage, Towards Ether explores questions of identity, ancestry, cultural inheritance and belonging. Featuring members of Ched William's family, including his mother and grandmother, the music video reflects on how Indian cultural traditions are preserved, transformed and rediscovered across generations within Mauritian families.

Filmed in Mauritius during a family visit for his grandfather's Barkhi, a Hindu ceremony marking the end of the year-long mourning period, the work brings together music, family histories and personal memory. It also offers a creative perspective on the legacies of Indian indentureship in the Indian Ocean and the experiences of descendants within the wider indenture diaspora.

The discussion will explore the intersections of artistic expression, cultural heritage and family memory, highlighting how music and film can help tell stories of migration, identity and intergenerational connection.

About the Artist

Ched William is a French-Mauritian singer-songwriter, composer and director whose work explores the experience of navigating multiple cultures and identities. Drawing on his French, Mauritian and Tunisian heritage, his music combines indie pop, folk and progressive influences with visual storytelling.

He is also the founder of the independent label Light Chaser Production.

Seminar Details

-          Date: Thursday, November 12

-          Time: 12:00 p.m. (Trinidad and Tobago) | 6:00 p.m. (Paris) | 9:00 p.m. (Mauritius)

-          Venue: Virtual

-          Register here

To learn more about Ched William and his work, click here