Vey Nou Lagon
A film by Vanina Harel and Zara Currimjee
Writing by Oona Watkins
We are from Mauritius, a volcanic island off the coast of Madagascar. An island so small it appears on maps as a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean. However, Mauritius doesn’t stop where the waves meet the beach. Its borders extend far offshore into crystal blue waters, making it a huge ocean state. Growing up in a nation that thrives off its ocean territory, we both have fond memories of the sea and the remarkable creatures that live in our lagoons.
Zara: “Like all Mauritians, I love octopus salad. I will always remember finding a baby octopus on a drifting piece of plastic in the lagoon. For days, I could not stop wondering how it was going to survive facing all the dangers of the oceans. It was so delicate that a wave could tear one of its arms out; so tiny a crab could eat it in one bite. It made me realize how important it is to protect the baby ones, so they can grow to sustain an island nation.”
Vanina: “My favorite memory of growing up on Mont Choisy is the 10 year old me sitting in the sand and looking for tec-tecs (coquinas). These small shells are so delicious fried in garlic! I love them. Unfortunately, today I can only find tiny ones that I don’t collect in the hope that they grow to their adult size so that one day I can enjoy eating them again.”
70 - SEVENSEAS