Biography
Joseph Nicolas Emilien — known to all as Ras Natty Baby — was born in 1954 on the island of Rodrigues, into a Creole family whose roots run through every community of the Indian Ocean. The "child prince whose only crown is his hair" became one of the architects of a music of hope and freedom: Seggae.
Co-founder of the legendary Natty Rebels movement, he was far more than a musician — he was a messenger of the soul. From Rodrigues to Mauritius and onto international stages, his unique fusion of Sega and Reggae — conscious Seggae — left an indelible mark on the musical identity of the region, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kaya in the pantheon of Mauritian roots music.
Across more than three decades he released a body of work that defined the genre, including the albums Seggae Time (Déclic, 1998), Vibration Rasta Zom, Révélasion, Harmaguedon (Oasis), Trinité, Nuvel Vizion, Evidences — Best of Ras Natty Baby (2003) and La Résurrection (2012). His anthems Leve Do Mo Pep, Lamur Spirituel, Jah Vivant, Seggae Survival and Nuvel Vision remain pillars of Mauritian conscious music.
Ras Natty Baby sang of identity, justice, Rastafari, the dignity of the people, and the African memory carried in every ravanne. His son, Salem Emilien, continues the work today — crafting handmade traditional instruments and carrying the family's musical legacy forward.
He passed away in 2026, joining Kaya and the great ancestors. His voice is not silenced — it resonates forever in the Plaza, in every ravanne, and across the Indian Ocean.
Discography
Selected releases — stream, explore and support the artist via the links below.
Gallery