Reunion Islander
Identification. Reunion Island (in French, La Reunion ) is a multicultural society composed of people originally from France, Mozambique, India, China, Madagascar, and the Comores. Islanders use their ethnic origins to define themselves as Cafres (African ancestry) Z'oreilles (born in mainland France), malabars or Tamouls (from Tamil Nadu southern India), Z'arabes (from Gujarat in northern India), Chinois (from China), Malgaches (from Madagascar), Comores (from Comores), Petits blancs (poor rural whites living in the highlands), or Creoles blancs (white landowners). The term Creole today also applies to people with a mixed ethnic background. All the residents of the island are administratively French citizens.
Location and Geography. Reunion Island lies in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Madagascar. At 970 square miles, (2,512 square kilometers), it is the largest of the Mascarene islands. High plains separate two volcanic systems. Climatic variations range from humid to dry tropical to Mediterranean. More than half the land is not suitable for cultivation. Periodic cyclones can be devastating. The capital is Saint Denis.
Demography. In 1999, the population was over 717,000. It is difficult to categorize the population by ethnic background, but estimates indicate that approximately twenty percent of the population is of Indian ancestry, and around five percent is born in mainland France.
Linguistic Affiliation. Although French is the official language, Creole is the language of everyday life. Based on French, with a mixture of Malagasy and Tamil words, it is used with relatives and for informal interactions. French is generally used in formal situations. Although everybody understands it, many people cannot speak it; therefore, its use is a marker of educational achievement and social status.
Symbolism. Economic and cultural ties are almost exclusively with mainland France; Reunion is officially called "the France of the Indian Ocean." Since the development of tourism in the 1970s, the image the island tries to project to the outside world is that of a multicolored society where people with different ethnic backgrounds live together peacefully.
Emergence of the Nation. Discovered at the beginning of the sixteenth century, the island was reached by the French in 1643. Reunion (then called Mascarin ) was devoid of inhabitants. The French sent twelve convicts into exile there. In 1649 they officially claimed the island in the name of the king and named it Bourbon . Colonization started in 1665, when the French East India Company sent the first twenty settlers. After 1715, settlers produced coffee and spices, which ultimately were replaced by sugarcane. In 1792, France renamed the island La Reunion.
The labor force needed on the sugarcane plantations was supplied by slaves from Mozambique and Madagascar. At the end of the seventeenth century, the population could be divided into white French landowners and African and Malagasy slaves. A great number of white settlers arrived too late to gain access to the land and, excluded from the plantation system, retired in the highlands, where they constituted a poor white population ( Petits blancs ).
The abolition of slavery in 1848 led white landowners to recruit indentured laborers for their plantations, particularly Tamils. Most Tamils stayed at the end of their five-year contracts and continued to work for the white landowners. At the turn of the century, some Chinese and Muslim Gujaratis arrived
Having lost their cultural links with their societies of origin, African and Maslagasy slaves were subject to deculturation and pauperization. By contrast, whites, Chinese, Muslim Gujaratis, Tamils, and French from the mainland have been able to maintain most of their original systems of value while adapting it to the local context.
National Identity. Since the beginning of immigration, the French government has stressed assimilation of the populations under its control, exploiting the resources of the island while pressuring immigrants to become "French." As a result, all members of this multicultural society are officially "French citizens." However, many descendants of Tamil immigrants have maintained their ancestral beliefs and patterns of behavior. Although Chinese residents were also converted to Christianity, they are less westernized than are residents of south Indian ancestry. Most still speak Chinese and have kept links with relatives in China. Gujaratis Muslims also have been able to preserve their culture and religion.
Ethnic Relations. Whites and people of African, Tamil, and mixed ancestry consider themselves the original inhabitants of the island, in contrast to Gujaratis and Chinese. However, all native residents feel a strong difference between themselves and people from mainland France. The French, who generally do not stay more than three or four years on the island, are rarely considered full members of the society. Both populations live close to each other but inhabit different cultural worlds.
Basic Economy. The economy was traditionally based on agriculture. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the most important crops were coffee and cloves and then sugarcane.
Major Industries. The labor force consists of workers in services (seventy-three percent), industry (nineteen percent), and agriculture (eight percent). Major industries include sugar, rum, handicrafts, and flower oil extraction.
Trade. The major exports are sugar, rum vanilla, and perfume essences. Imported commodities include manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, raw materials, machinery and transportation equipment, and petroleum products. The economy depends on financial assistance from mainland France, which is also the principal trading partner. Around 100,000 people born in Reunion work and live in mainland France. Massive importation of goods has led to a large deficit in the balance of trade. The government has promoted tourism to reduce unemployment, which affects more than a third of the labor force.
Classes and Castes. The transformation of Reunion into a French department slowly substituted a pseudo-industrial and consumer society for a colonial and rural society. There are large disparities in wages and deep social inequalities between workers. The minimum wage is around ten percent lower than it is in mainland France, while the wages of those in the public sector are approximately forty percent higher. The gap between rich and poor accounts for the current social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than are other segments of the population. Immigrants from France hold the key positions in administration,
Symbols of Social Stratification. Use of the French language characterizes social stratification. As most of the population learns Creole at home and French at school, the ability to speak French is a sign of education and high status.
Government. The political system is French. The representative of the French state is the prefect, who is appointed by the French president. There are one general council and one regional council, whose presidents are elected by their members, that finance development projects. City mayors are popularly elected, along with five deputies to the French National Assembly.
Social Problems and Control. The legal system is French. Homicide and rape are relatively numerous and are committed mostly by men under the influence of alcohol. Court judgments take into account the social background of criminals.
Military Activity. Defense is the responsibility of France. The military is absent in Reunion, and men serve their military terms in France.
Because unemployment is a major problem, state programs of social welfare are important. More than sixty percent of the population receives welfare benefits.
Infant Care. The care of infants varies with the family's ethnic and cultural background. Regarding sleep practices, for instance, among families from the mainland France, a child is put in a separate room very early and may have stories, toys, and a night lamp to accompany him or her in the sleep. On the other side, among families of Indian origin, children consider sleep a positive and auspicious event, and children go to bed without reluctance. Most of these children share bedrooms with siblings of the same sex.
Child Rearing and Education. Children of Tamil ancestry learn to separate the world into two basic spheres of action: that of the family and the community, in which the Indian value system predominates,
Higher Education. In 1954, fifty-seven percent of the population was illiterate, but today the rate is less than 10 percent. Education is valued in families of Tamil, Gujarati, and Chinese ancestry. For the lower and middle classes, school is a democratic institution that allows one to achieve a better future. Pupils with African and mixed origin who frequently grow up in a family with a single mother, often experience failure at school. In contrast, education is particularly valued in families of Tamil, Gujarati, and Chinese ancestry. For the lower and middle classes, school is a democratic institution that allows one to achieve a better future. There are seven thousand students at the ever-expanding University of La Réunion.
Religious Beliefs. The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism, totaling eighty-six percent of the population. Christianity was established by the first settlers. Although indentured contracts specified that a laborer's religion be respected, the Catholic Church and the authoritarian administration attempted to convert newcomers. Tamils were obliged
Religious Practitioners. Although they have been largely christianized, people of Indian origin refer to Hindu Gods in important matters. While it has been adapted to a new social context, folk Hinduism has been maintained almost as it was in India at the time of emigration more than one century ago. Among the expressions of this religion are fire walking, animal sacrifices, and rituals of possession by a deity or ancestor. This Hinduism is strongly connected with the idea of protection against bad luck, the evil eye, and the negative forces of the visible and invisible world.
In rural areas, modern medicine is complemented by traditional local practices based on a mixture of different beliefs (Hindus, Christian, and Malagasy).
The major holidays are the same as those in France (National Day, Bastille Day, Christmas, New Year's Eve), supplemented by local celebrations such as the anniversary of the abolition of slavery on 21 December and the Tamil and Chinese new years.
Literature. A local literature that has existed for the last twenty years celebrates the culture of Reunion. Most writers who use the Creole language emphasize a global identity (that of being réunionnais and neglect the cultural heterogeneity of the population.
In the 1970s a local university was created, and French scholars received funding to conduct research on the island. Numerous studies, focused primarily on the Creole language and culture, have since been published. Undertaken by researchers or students from mainland France or natives of the island, they mostly see the society as an integrated unit or a place of culturally distinct subcultures. An outward perspective—still awaited—should allow a better analytic distanciation.
Ghasarian, Christian. Honneur, Chance et Destin: La Culture Indienne à LaRéunion, 1991.
——. "Interpreting a Hindu Rite: A Critique of a Psychoanalytic Reading." Berkeley Journal of Asian Studies 7: 79–, 1996.
——. "We Have the Best Gods! The Encounter between Hinduism and Christianity in La Réunion." Journal of Asian and African Studies 23 (3–4): 286–295, 1996.
——. "Language Strategies in La Réunion." Cahiers 4(3): 7–18, University of Hull, England, 1998.
——. "Patrimoine et Ethnicité à LaRéunion: Dynamiques et Dialogismes." Ethnologie Francaise , 3: 365–374, 1999.
Leguen, M. Histoire de l'île de La Réunion, L'Hartmattan , 1979.
Scherer, André. La Réunion, "Que sais-je?," 1980.
—C HRISTIAN G HASARIAN
thanx
awal
~unKown~
i love reading about special islands that i hope to visit soon!!!
Thank you for your job.
Go there its really a good place with good people (also bad) but good spot to live
As for the comments of 'Dave' on May 7th 2007, he obviously has no idea what he is talking about. The 'colonial people' of Reunion are not being used in any way, in fact the reverse is true and they are benefiting from vast subsidies from being members of the EU. Look at the wonderful roads and 'European' infrastructure.
As for joining Mauritius, only an idiot or Mauritius politician would want that. I've been there! It is a far smaller island, with a far greater population, much more poverty and no 'European' infrastructure and their roads are in a typically 'African' condition.
Many thanks
~kess
as you kills dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASSSHHOOLLLEEESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MOTHERFUCKERS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DIE YOU'RE NO FUCKI*N HUMANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
La Reunion is not only a region of France but also a region of Europe. And citizen of La Reunion are french citizen, which means that they have opportunities to work and live in any region of Europe. By the way, being a region of Europe gave us more economical autonomy in regards to France.
For these simple reasons, it is unlikely that Reunionese will choose independence.
Another important point: we will never join Mauritius, in regards to the different political cultures of our countries.
Typically, the political and social lives are not driven by ethnic classification in La Reunion, while this is more or less the case in Mauritius.
M. GHASARIAN underlined the correlation between economic inequalities and ethnic origin. That's still true; but at the same time, blending is increasing. As a result, we are at a transition: some decade ago, people were clearly inhabiting "different cultural worlds", but now, they increasingly feel that they shares a common reunionese cultural world and future.
Yours,
Frederic from Reunion.
Reunion Island Independence should decided by the people of the Island, nor South African , nor Mauritian, nor Mainland French.
If people want freedom they 'll , if they want to live with France let them decide.
God saves Reunion Island....
living off French money.
Thus, it is obvious that Reunion is an example of an island which has failed to be self-reliant (look at the recent food crisis in Guadeloupe and Reunion and ask yourselves why they went through this?) and capable economically but has prospered because of its relationship with France.
Would Reunion's people be worse off independent? Probably, but at least they can say that they've tried.
Find out how many Reunionnese went to France to find work and you'll see thousands, then look at how many Frenchmen are getting paid to come and work in Reunion.
Look at Seychelles and you can see an example of an ex-colonial Indian Ocean nation doing well so just because of Mauritius' problems don't say it can't work.
Thanks for sharing
-FLETCHER-
Thanks for all the information you provided.
Mike Hess
Narendra Dobariya
I am from Reunion Island. I wanted to say that information on this page about my island is quite correct. Few details are a bit outdated. So if anyone wants fresh update, you can email me.
I am a blend of "Créole blanc" (white creole) and South Asian. I have actually Indian, Gypsy, French Norman and Scottish ancestors. I speak creole as primary language and use french language in administration and work. I also speak urdu and gujarati. I was born Catholic but I am not Christian anymore (I'm 32). But I still practice folk syncretism (ancestor worship, Hindu gods and Christian saints).
So don't hesitate to ask me if you have questions: zscd@live.in
interesting place to visit.i want to know about agricultutr sector in reunion .types of crops suitble for reunion climate?
Hi reunions
hope that you are send a good reply.
I'm looking forward to visit the island
thanks for great information.
I am so grateful to have read about this gorgeous island and very soon I'll be visiting.
thanks for the great information.
God bless!
Politically treated as a department of France, does it have free movement of people unlike the situation with my country and some of its remaining "Overseas territories" we certainly don't treat them like counties of the United Kingdom.
AND I KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT THIS TERRITORY. I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND CROPS THAT ARE CULTIVATING THERE THROUGH THIS SITE. THANKS
i am still interested though!
And I am from La Réunion, in case people have questions ;) don't hesitate to ask ^^
African descent mostly consists of single women trying to raise their families. When are these men going to wake up and start taking responsibility and provide for their off-springs? When are the rich people of the same culture going to invest some money into teaching these men family values? Time to stop the cycle/time to stop thinking it is not your problem. Time for African Pride!
Because the school system is French, students who study well have the ability to pursue their studies either in Reunion or in France. I have several nieces and nephews who studied and live in France. Medical care is pretty comparable to mainland France.
Over the past 25 years Reunion has made some pretty impressive gains in standard of living. While I have not been in Mauritius, it is my understanding that Reunions standard of living is quit a bit higher. It is a different level than Madagascar and much more on par with Europe. This is largely because French money flows in because there is not much of an industrial base.
As far as the comments about French and Creole, I have seen the opposite. Many kids today struggle with Creole and they are now teaching it in school. Many of the kids speak at least limited English.
Reunion is a beautiful island with stunning scenery. Most young people speak at least some English.
Reunion made a choice as did Mauritius. Pointing out that Reunion’s performance, could have been ‘self-reliant’ like Seychelles or Mauritius is hypothetical. Independent Mauritius receives substantial aid from France for economic, cultural, educational, and strategic reasons (sphere of influence). Reunion would have received perhaps more technical and financial support. Joining Mauritius to form a single entity, is, however, like the desire of the moth for the star, and the night for the morrow. Mauritius does not believe in colonization but in cooperation, already formalized in the Indian Ocean Commission.
Reunion is sufficiently intelligent to decide its lots, certainly not Mauritius! In some areas Mauritius is more advanced – it became a tremendous quality textile exporter before shifting to become a global financial centre and regularly features among the 10 most beautiful islands to visit in the company of The Maldives, The Seychelles, The Bahamas or Malta; in other areas Reunion is more advanced like energy or perfume production. Cooperation can reinforce each other. Reunion benefits much from France but control rests with metropolitan France. Tourism is progressing in both countries because some airlines find it profitable to service both islands.
Reunion benefited from better infrastructure, which Mauritius is fast catching up as evidenced by the roads and the quality of vehicles (Mercedes, Audi, BMW). Hundreds, if not thousands, of Frenchmen and South Africans work in Mauritius, seek Mauritian nationality and work in the hotels and financial services sector. Why would they leave France or South Africa to settle in Mauritius? Frederick stated that ‘political and social lives are not driven by ethnic classification … in Mauritius’ - a perception political leaders, living in ethno-social ivory tower, persist in believing is at odds with the electoral data since 1976. Like Reunion, Mauritius, has undergone significant socio-economic evolution with rising inter-ethnic marriages. Paul Berenger, a White Franco-Mauritian, overcoming great lobbies, became Prime Minister on his charisma and merit since the White population accounts for less than 2% of the population.
Being contemptuous of Dave’s remarks or treating others as ‘idiots’ smacks of a colonial condescending attitude. Is Mauritius (2040 KM2 & 2.3 KM2 Mn of EEZ) a far smaller island than Reunion (2512 KM2)? Size or population are not determining factors (Hong Kong, Singapore, Iceland). Economic prosperity depends on thriving markets, income, and acquired resources. For three consecutive years Mauritius appeared in the top 10 best performers with NZ, Singapore (World Heritage Index). If Ian had visited Mauritius in the early 1980s, I have no quarrels with him. Progress is a function of universal factors and the determination of a nation.
Reunion and Mauritius should think of what they can do together rather than what separates. One potential project is a floating windmill farm in the ocean separating Mauritius and Reunion (144 miles), financed and run by a Mauritius-Reunion joint venture to maximize the critical mass of demand - a model of energy production friendly to the environment impacting on high-income job creations, balance of payments etc. Cultural and economic ties transc (...)