Culture of Mauritius

Mauritius is a multi-ethnic, multilingual and a plural society with a population composed mainly of four major ethnic and religious groups. It is often depicted as a "rainbow nation".^[1][2]

The island of Mauritius did not have any indigenous population and has been characterized by successive waves of European colonization and multiple immigrations.^[3] Under French rule between 1715 and 1810, slaves were imported on the island from mainland Africa and Madagascar.^[4]

Indian migrants from Pondicherry first arrived on the island in 1736. Later, massive immigration from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of India took place following the abolition of slavery in 1835 by the British Empire.^[5] After an early influx of Chinese migrants into Mauritius, mostly from Fujian, Cantonese and Hakka migrants from Southern China (Guangdong) settled on the island, first as indentured labourers and later as free merchants. Hakka Sino-Mauritians eventually became the dominant group within the community.^[6][7]

The co-existence of Mauritians of Indian, African (known as Mauritian Creoles), European (mostly French), and Chinese ancestry eventually led to a sharing of values and cultures, a collective participation in festivals and an increased understanding between people of different ethnic backgrounds.^[8] Mauritians from different cultural backgrounds are very distinct from each other, and it is also highly unpopular to encourage the dissolution of cultural boundaries in Mauritius.^[9] Mauritian high culture is French and Indian dominated.^[7]