Mauritius Culture, Arts & Society News
A melting pot of African, Indian, Chinese and European influences, Mauritius has a vibrant cultural life. Explore coverage of Sega music and dance, Creole heritage, Diwali, Eid and Chinese New Year celebrations, arts festivals, prominent personalities, and the social issues shaping Mauritian society.
97 Culture stories · Updated continuously · MauritiusNews.com
LOL, BRB, OMG: How SMS Slang Became a Language of Its Own
Before unlimited data plans and smartphones with intelligent keyboards, sending a text message was both technically and financially constrai…
Home & Garden Clearance Sale Returns to Trianon This October
Mauritius homeowners and interior enthusiasts have a date to mark in their calendars: the Grand Salon du Déstockage de la Maison et du Jardi…
The Handbag Trends Dominating Women's Fashion This Season
The handbag has long outgrown its role as a purely practical accessory. Today, it sits at the heart of any well-put-together outfit, a state…
How Air Fryers Work, and Why They're Worth It
Air fryers have become one of the most talked-about kitchen appliances of the past decade, and for good reason. But despite the name, an air…
Montblanc to Namiki: Why Collectors Prize These Luxury Pens
In a world increasingly dominated by keyboards and touchscreens, a quiet but passionate community of collectors continues to place extraordi…
What Mauritius Traffic and Football Reveal About Character
There is a kind of honesty that only surfaces when no one is watching. Not the honesty of job interviews, political manifestos, or Sunday ap…
Professor Vinesh Hookoomsing, Champion of Mauritian Creole, Has Died
Mauritius has lost one of its most prominent cultural and linguistic figures. Professor Vinesh Hookoomsing, widely regarded as a leading cha…
SSR at 126: The Humanist Philosophy That Built Modern Mauritius
Each year, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Memorial Lecture at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) brings together scholars, policymakers…
SSR at 115: The Dual Identity That Built Modern Mauritius
Every year on 18 March, Mauritius pauses to remember the man who led it to independence: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, universally known as SSR…
Mauritius Times ePaper Edition: Friday 18 September 2026
The Mauritius Times, one of the island's longest-running independent English-language newspapers, has published its Friday 18 September 2026…
Watch Trends 2025: Smaller Dials, Retro Style and Bold Colours
After years dominated by oversized steel sports watches and near-impossible-to-find hype models, the global watch industry is undergoing a q…
Spaghetti, Linguine or Capellini: Which Pasta Suits Which Sauce?
Pasta is a staple in kitchens around the world, and Mauritius is no exception, from family dinners in Curepipe to restaurant menus in Grand …
Birthday Cakes Transformed: From Simple Sponge to Edible Art
The humble birthday cake has come a long way from its origins as a simple round sponge covered in chocolate icing and topped with a few cand…
Satyendra Peerthum: 'Enslaved People Had Their Own History Too'
For too long, the history of slavery in Mauritius has been told through the eyes of colonisers and slave owners. Historian Satyendra Peerthu…
Chinatown Port Louis Hosts 19th China Food & Culture Festival
Port Louis's historic Chinatown district is buzzing with colour and flavour this weekend as the 19th edition of the China Food & Culture Fes…
Samyang Brings Korean Spice to Port Louis Chinatown Festival
Korean food brand Samyang is bringing a fiery twist to one of Port Louis's most anticipated annual food events. On 26 and 27 September 2026,…
Kutcha: The Tangy Mauritian Condiment That Makes Every Meal
If you've ever sat down to a Sunday biryani in Mauritius, chances are there was a small, intensely flavoured relish on the side, finely grat…
Chinatown Food & Cultural Festival Brings Chinese Flavours to Port Louis
Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, is celebrating its rich Chinese heritage this week as the Chinatown Food & Cultural Festival transform…
Bamboo Biryani: The Ancient Cooking Trend Taking Mauritius by Storm
In Mauritius, biryani is more than a meal, it is a cultural institution. Served at weddings, religious celebrations and family gatherings, t…
LE4, B055, K3V1N: How Mauritians Hack Their Number Plates
Scroll through a car park at Bagatelle Mall or sit in rush-hour traffic on the M1 motorway, and a quiet game tends to start itself: decoding…
Lays vs Miss Croq: Inside Mauritius's Booming Chips Market
Walk into any Mauritian supermarket, corner shop, or beachside kiosk and you will almost certainly find a rack of chips. Whether it is a laz…
Alouda: The Iconic Mauritian Drink You Need to Try
When the midday sun beats down on the bustling alleys of Port-Louis's Central Market, or the afternoon heat settles over Mauritius's towns a…
Mauritius Pastry Team Takes On Africa's Best for 2026 World Cup Spot
Mauritius is stepping onto the world stage of competitive pastry-making, with Team Maurice set to face Africa's top culinary talent in the A…
Cobblers, Tailors, Bakers: Mauritius's Dying Trades Struggle to Survive
Walk through the streets of Port-Louis today and you will still find a cobbler hunched over a worn-out sole, or a tailor pressing fabric beh…
Frequently Asked Questions
What languages are spoken in Mauritius?−
Mauritius is multilingual. English is the official language of parliament and business; French is widely used in media and education; Mauritian Creole (Kreol Morisyen) is the mother tongue of most Mauritians; and Bhojpuri, Mandarin, Tamil, and Telugu are spoken in various communities.
What is Sega music?−
Sega is the traditional music and dance of Mauritius, originating from African and Malagasy slaves. It features the ravane drum, maravanne shaker, and triangle, with rhythmic dancing and call-and-response singing. UNESCO recognised Mauritian Sega as intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
What are the main festivals celebrated in Mauritius?−
Mauritius celebrates a rich mix of cultural festivals: Diwali (Hindu festival of lights), Eid ul-Fitr (Muslim celebration), Chinese New Year, Christmas, and Maha Shivaratri, one of the largest Hindu pilgrimages outside India, drawing 400,000+ devotees to Grand Bassin each year.
What is the ethnic makeup of Mauritius?−
The Mauritian population is one of the world's most ethnically diverse. Indo-Mauritians (of Indian descent) make up about 68%, Creoles (of African/Malagasy descent) about 27%, Sino-Mauritians about 3%, and Franco-Mauritians about 2%. This diversity shapes the island's food, religion, and cultural life.