Giovanny Ally (May 1, 1958 – April 14, 2020) |15 April 2020

Giovanny Ally and David Andre in France

Tribute to a ‘wonderful soul’

It is with sadness that I learned of the passing away of my friend Daniel Giovanny Ally, a colourful character whose life deserves to be celebrated.

Daniel was in love with life, with love, with poetry, with languages, with music and plants around him and was well loved by everyone.

I knew Daniel during our childhood days and then in January 1972 at the Seychelles College. He was in Form 1A and I was in Form 1B. We had both won scholarships to attend the prestigious Seychelles College. During his years at the College he was a top long-distance athlete and won many medals for his house ‘Cousteau’.

We found ourselves, together with Wills Zatte, as the first trio to study music in Aix-en-Provence in France. We then continued our studies in Seine St Denis at the Conservatoire de Noisy Le Sec where we graduated as professeur de musique. He was a professionally trained saxophonist.

Giovanny, as he was more familiarly known, formed part of a very dynamic team comprising Thomas Alexis, Jerry Souris, Antoine Azemia, Benett Accouche and myself who set up the Conservatoire of Music later to become the Conservatoire of Performing Arts, where he pursued his career as a music instructor until his retirement. Among his students is prominent saxophonist Jean Quatre.

Giovanni, a well-respected author, composer, poet, musician, herbalist, will be remembered fondly by all his friends from all over the world and his songs and poetry will forever remind us of how a wonderful soul he was.

He was a loyal and trusted friend. I can still recall a quote he shared with me:

‘L’amitié est la source d’eau claire qui emporte toutes les tristesses du passé’.

Farewell my good friend!

By David Andre

Mayor of Victoria