Réfléchir
Everything Local
Local is trendy . In Mauritius , the word is plastered on advertising posters , shop fronts , restaurant menus , hotel Instagram posts , and marketing campaigns for banks . This trend , intensified by the enforced reacquaintance with what ’ s closest to home of the Covid-19 era , is not unique to Mauritius . The extraordinary rise of Airbnb and the obsession many tourism trendsetters have with “ authentic ” experiences that “ feed a sense of place ” reveal a quest for the local that shows no signs of abating .
But how do we define ‘ local ’ and ‘ authentic ’? After all , our frangipani flowers come from South America , the shells sold on our beaches are imported from the Philippines , and our woven baskets from Madagascar . It might almost seem like the things that characterise us are not especially Mauritian after all . Yet the country has the potential to shake off its image as a tropical paradise and reveal its treasure trove of unexpected riches . The true spirit of Mauritius is not found where you might expect ( nor in the things you might expect to praise the country for ), so where can this truth , this spirit , be found ?
A search for the real thing
The Larousse dictionary defines authenticity as “ sincerity of feeling , truth of testimony .” Truth is what characterises the authenticity of a relationship or an experience . To find the real Mauritius , we talk to Mauritians . We walk through the lively streets of Port-Louis , where dal puri and gro palto are sold side by side . We listen to Anne-Ga and Explik or Ka on Radio Plus . The real Mauritius is woven into the clothes imagined by Mauritian designers , and resides in the skillful hands that create ‘ Made in Moris ’ products . It is displayed on the walls of the Imaaya gallery , and seen on the stage of the Caudan Arts Centre . The true Mauritian spirit can be experienced at an electronica party , a beach picnic , or a Cavadee procession . In other words , open your eyes and take a look : the real Mauritius is everywhere , not just on our beaches !
Ananda Devi writes : “ French , Creole , Teleguo , all these languages are shadows that taunt me , lights that elude me . None of them belong to me . I open my mouth and I know that my true language is silence .” In this sense , this quest for the local is perhaps a quest for a collective self . A journey of identity . A question asked more than an answer provided . Perhaps it is this that distinguishes us from the rest of the world ? Far from the “ Rainbow Nation ” cliché , Mauritius is – in truth – a nation in the making . To accept this is to honour the authentic truth .
So let us do without the stereotypes that overshadow our diversity . Like a snake rejects its outgrown skin , let us step away from the sega / coconut tree images that hang around our necks . Let ' s be proud of our beaches and our traditions , but also welcome our creative impulses , our rebellious youth , our mixture of races and cultures , and our complicated relationships . Let us truly move forward .
44