A BRIEF HISTORY OF MAURITIUS

For a nation that exists so harmoniously (and achieved independence without bloodshed in 1968) it seems almost unfathomable that Mauritius has been passed along a line of imperial overlords, from the Dutch who gave the country its name (after Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange) in the 17th century to the English who gave it its official language.

Although the French occupation was a comparatively brief century, it is this culture that has had lasting impact on the people, values and spirit of the island. French is still widely spoken (as well as the spirited local Creole) and many of the nation’s 1.2 million inhabitants are descended from the slaves that once toiled in the French sugarcane fields. With the British came the abolition of slavery and the arrival of indentured labourers from India. Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis – the Immigration Depot – served as the not-so-welcome point for half a million Indian arrivals, and became Mauritius’ first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Today the island is home to a thriving mosaic of people from India, Africa, Europe and China, with religious diversity overwhelming for its small size. Its cuisine is a celebration of a tumultuous past and adaptation. Curries are alive with Indian spice; heart of palm accompanies smoked marlin; fine dining is executed with French finesse; and dishes from every corner of the globe can be found in the markets and restaurants peppering the cities.