People and Culture

Mauritius is at the cultural cross roads of Europe, Africa and Asia. The Dutch, French, Africans, Indians, Chinese and British came under one guise or another and have today influenced the character and cultural life of the island. Though the island is closest to Africa geographically, culturally it is much closer to Asia.

The biggest racial groups are Indo-Mauritians who constitute about two thirds of the nations 1.2 million peoples, followed by Creoles - Afro- Mauritians who are just over a quarter of the population. Franco- Mauritians and peoples of Chinese origin combined make up about 5% of the population. While English is the official language, French, Creole, Bhojpuri and Urdu are widely spoken. Religion is the other factor defining the people of the island, with Hinduism (51%), Christianity (30%) and Islam (17%) leading.

Mauritius has a very broad-based culture, due to these different origins of the people. The Indians, who are descendants of Indian laborers brought to the Island by the British to work the cane fields, Chinese (Sino-Mauritians) brought for the same purpose and also as entrepreneurs, Creoles, who were a result of inter-marriage between the Africans, the French and Franco-Mauritians, who chose not to inter-marry and were the original settlers of the land and of course descendants of African slaves all make up the assorted culture.

Wherever you stay, you will most likely be able to watch or even dance the Sega. This energetic and erotic Creole dance has origins in the sugar fields, in the days when African labour was captive. This thoroughly exotic dance is performed on any occasion, mostly on the beach and to the beat of the ravane, a circular drum and other rhythmic instruments. It has also been influenced by Latino and Caribbean music.

Recently, a mixture of sega and reggae music has formed the new sound of conventional Mauritian local music and is known as Seggae.

Indian and Chinese dances are not to be left out. The well-refined and elegant Indian dances, where each posture depicts a certain meaning bring out the magical oriental culture of the Hindu. The ancestral lion and dragon dances are the best known of the Chinese dances.

Western music is also present in Mauritius with hip-hop, rap, rock, jazz and other time-honored types such as the waltz being most popular.

A large variety of cuisine reflects the different cultures of Mauritius. French, Creole, Indian, Chinese and English dishes are widely available. Seafood is most common with delights such as sounouk (salted fish), octopus stew, oysters, lobster, crabs, prawns and crayfish being most popular.

Muslim biryani, Indian chicken curry, French style veggies, Creole roast beef and Chinese pork are a must-try. Other specialties include rougaille- a dish of tomatoes, venison (when in season), wild boar and bredes- a vegetable soup. Dholl purri- a type of wheat pancake stuffed with dholl and samosas are popular snacks.

Fruits such as bananas, pineapples and papaya are always in season, whereas mangoes, watermelon and litchis are seasonal. Citrus fruits are imported into the country. Local beverages include alooda- a sweet brew of agar, milk and other flavors, lassi- which is yogurt and ice water. Amongst the alcoholic drinks are Blue marlin, white rum and phoenix brands - which are the local brews, and a variety of wines imported from South Africa and France.

European architecture is in evidence within the towns and is a colonial contribution to Mauritius. Creole houses, which are adapted to the sunny and humid climate, show off the traditional architecture. Another aspect of Mauritian culture is the colorful festivals; Christmas for Christians, the Spring festival by the Chinese, Diwali for the Hindu and Idd-Ul-Fitr for the Muslims are amongst the celebrations carried out each year.

If you decide to venture into a place of worship, for example a mosque or temple, do keep in mind that conservative dress is required. Also, don't forget to take off your shoes before you enter.

You may also be fortunate to encounter any of the various festivals celebrated in this multicultural country. Only the most widely traveled however, will be prepared for the Cavadi. On this Tamil festival, penitents pierce their bodies, tongues, and cheeks while some march on shoes of nails.

Tourism is one of the main pillars of the economy of Mauritius. The bulk of visitors come from South Africa, Germany, France, Australia and UK. Hotels in Mauritius are plenty, and they range from 5-star luxury to those with just basic amenities. Budget stay comes in the form of bungalows, guesthouses and self-catering apartments. The period June to September and around Christmas is the busy season and if you plan to travel then, you are advised to book your accommodation in advance. Mauritius is still relatively affordable, though there has been talk of turning it into an up market beach destination.