MAURITIUS
Literally speaking , heritage means “ what is given to us by our father and mother ”. How can we rid it of its elitist and outdated image ?
We have to move away from our nostalgic and backward-looking understanding of heritage . Heritage isn ’ t the exclusive preserve of the “ old ” or the wealthy . It is part of our national wealth ; it ’ s a resource . Mauritians – and young people especially – understand or are beginning to understand this . They express their heritage through the arts , through culture and language . To them , heritage isn ’ t an old granary . It is our soul and our identity , and that identity can ’ t be a poor version of that of Dubai or Singapore .
Would you say that heritage is “ back ”?
I feel like there is renewed interest in issues of memory , record-keeping and passing information on , with people asking “ what are we going to leave to our children ?” That ’ s what heritage is : a legacy passed on as a frame of reference , a bridge between the past and the future . The reaction to the Wakashio oil spill illustrates this new awareness . The country rose up together to protect its natural heritage .
There ’ s a perception that investing in heritage is expensive rather than profitable ...
Think again . To move forward , you have to look back . Investing in heritage means creating social linkages . It means safeguarding traditions and skillsets that we can take pride in . It ’ s allowing people to come together by visiting reminders of the past , whether in the form of a restored mill , a washhouse or a pagoda . It is about our history and our culture , and about sharing in them together . That link is priceless .
When we talk about heritage , we often end up talking about the obsolescence of certain built environments . It is always necessary to tug at people ’ s heartstrings to get them interested in this issue ?
True , the language we use is a bit outdated . The media depicts heritage as an elderly granny whom you have to be nice to . But you ’ d be wrong to think that people aren ’ t interested in the subject . As a photographer , I ’ ve travelled all over the region , moving from one island to another . Yes , our heritage is under threat , but people are very attached to it . They enjoy sharing it and passing it on . I noticed this again last year when I worked on Port-Louis ’ old houses .
© Keivan Cadinouche
What do you mean exactly ?
That the “ old stones ” we hear about are much more than that . They are the memory of the people who lived in those old houses , the stories that unfolded between those walls . If we allow that heritage to disappear , we cut ourselves off from our past .
What can the stones tell us ?
Stories of resilience . These century-old buildings have weathered it all – cyclones , the wear and tear of time ... How ? Because back then we knew how to build things that lasted , that were sustainable , environmentally and otherwise . It wasn ’ t just a catchphrase ; it was how things really were . That ’ s why I believe that heritage has a future . It ’ s a source of ideas for how to do things , today and in the future . Let ’ s look at it with fresh eyes – rather than seeing it as some static vestige of the past , frozen in time . The ultimate aim is to pass it on .
In order to pass it on , how can we promote and protect heritage more effectively ?
First of all , we need to catalogue it . That ’ s the first step : to draw up a clear and precise inventory of Mauritian heritage , in both its tangible and intangible forms . When I started my project on the houses of Port- Louis , I looked for a list , a register . I couldn ’ t find anything . So I said to myself : I ’ ll go and wander the streets . I thought I would find about fifty houses , but in the end I found more than six hundred ! There are hidden treasures everywhere . The priority should be to take stock of all of our heritage , and not just the buildings . Then we can assess what can be preserved and promoted .
Any ideas about where to start ?
There is a huge amount to do . Heritage is an asset when it comes to tourism . Holidaymakers don ’ t just come to Mauritius for our beaches ; they are attracted by our culture . The challenge is to create a narrative around heritage , and to place that narrative in the limelight . There ’ s a rich set of tools out there in the form of new technology . Digital is really helpful for the promotion of heritage . Let ’ s also stop whining about the State not doing enough . It ’ s up to us , the grassroots , to make sure that heritage remains a living part of our culture . In Tamarin , where I live , the Martello Tower is managed by an association of enthusiasts . We could also involve the private sector , raise money through sponsorship , and lobby for changes to our tax system . It isn ’ t about reinventing the wheel , but about drawing inspiration from previous methods and experiences that have yielded positive results .
In a nutshell , what is the ultimate purpose of heritage ?
To shed light on the past and set a course for the future , together .
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