“Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius.”
Lying of the coast of Africa, 800km east of Madagascar as part of the Mascarene Islands, you would be forgiven for thinking Mauritius would be dominated by South East African culture, language, and food. However, it may surprise you. Once uninhabited, this pear-shaped tropical island has been colonised, invaded, and passed through the hands of multiple nations, meaning that now, Mauritius is a veritable melting pot, a rich multicultural mosaic of Indian, African, Chinese and French heritage; A predominantly Hindu population that speaks French-Creole, lives in cities with mixes of colonial and Chinese architecture, and a cuisine that borrows inspiration from all over the globe.
As you can see, I have included a few images in this photo diary of something that perfectly shows Mauritius’ varied heritage; Sega dancing. Although Sega originated in Madagascar and mainland Africa, this traditional dance is now found all over the island of Mauritius. It has origins in the music of slaves and their Mauritian Creole descendants, originally sung around the campfire to protest against injustices in Mauritian society. It was a way to tell the stories of joy and sorrow of the slaves, peasants and fishermen. It starts with a gentle swaying, to a slow and solemn tune played out on traditional ravannes, maracas and guitars which gradually intensifies as the dancers sway their hips to the pulsating rhythm, eventually reaching a joyous crescendo of dancing, singing and movement.
Elsewhere, the nation’s capital of Port Louis perfectly demonstrates the incredible diaspora of people that have made the Island their home. Its status as the busiest port in the Indian Ocean has resulted in the city becoming an enthralling melting pot of cultures with hints of India, China, East Africa, the middle east, and Europe. Here you will find French and British architecture – a result of almost 3 centuries of colonial rule – sitting side by side with mosques, Hindu temples and a vibrant china town. The food is a delicious blend of African creole cooking, Indian street food and east Asian treats. If you want to get a view of the island beyond the luxurious resorts and private beaches, a visit to Port Louis will give you an insight into the real Mauritius. Hopefully, these images will help showcase that.
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If you would like to see what camera equipment I use, check out this blog post to see what is in my camera bag. You can also find a whole bunch of photography tips and photo diaries elsewhere on my blog.
