Featuring Mauritius
History and culture
Mauritius is a volcanic island surrounded by corral reefs in the southern Indian Ocean. With rich soils and lush vegetation it is a green paradise with sandy beaches in an assure sea.
The most famous resident of Mauritius was the dodo, long since extinct.
The peoples of Mauritius are a history of the various settlers. Almost uniquely the various groups live together harmoniously. Hindus, Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Europeans live in peace in a place where ancestral cultures have been preserved. This rich diversity of culture results in a unique cuisine, one of the greatest features for any visitor, a mix of spicy curries, tropical fruits and vegetables, Chinese and European food.
The official language is English but Creole is understood and spoken by all Mauritians, even though, it is neither taught in schools not officially recognised and has no popular written form. The Creole language evolved from the pidgin used by the French slaves masters of the 18th century by borrowing words from African and Malagasy dialects. French is also still widely spoken on the island.
The traditional dance of Mauritius is known as the Sega. Thought to originate from dances performed by African slaves, it is characterised by the long colourful dresses worn be the women.