Indian Ocean culture is a story of movement. Islands such as Mauritius, Reunion Island, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mayotte and Comoros were shaped by African, Asian, European, Arab and Malagasy routes, by slavery, indenture, trade, faith, music, language and food.
Maloya music and sega music are two key sounds of the Indian Ocean. They are often placed side by side, but they do not tell the same story.
The Creole languages of the Indian Ocean tell island history through everyday speech. Reunion Creole, Mauritian Creole, Seychellois Creole, Shimaore, Shibushi and Malagasy coexist with French, English and other languages depending on the territory.
Mauritius festivals help visitors understand the island beyond beaches. They show faith, family life, food, music and public holidays. Indian Ocean festivals also connect Mauritius with Reunion, Seychelles, Madagascar and wider Asian and African worlds.
Creole architecture in the Indian Ocean can be read through houses, verandas, decorative woodwork, gardens, roofs and plantation homes. It tells a story of climate, social history and living between indoors and outdoors.
