Mayotte celebrates its multicultural history

From Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Department-Region of Mayotte organized two major events dedicated to the history and multiple identities that shape the island.

Mayotte’s unique cultural mix

At the crossroads of historic maritime routes connecting East Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros archipelago, and the Middle East, Mayotte is the product of a mixing of populations, beliefs, and traditions. However, within the island society, the memory of this shared past remains largely unknown or fragmented.

Local leaders highlight educational need

Zouria Mouayad Ben, vice-president of the Departmental Council in charge of sports, culture, and youth, noted that Mayotte hosts many communities on its territory, and often, the population complains of not knowing enough about the history of this island, the history of each village. For the local elected official, this institutional initiative responds to an educational and civic urgency.

Scholars explore historical connections

During two mornings of study in Kavani, led by Abal-Kassim Cheikh Ahmed, president of the University of Mayotte, and by the former president of the Department, Soibahadine Ibrahim Ramadani, there was a discussion of archaeological, genetic, and administrative archives. The discussions on Friday addressed recent discoveries about ancient settlement with teacher Martial Pauly of Inalco, the village toponymy deciphered by historian Inssa de N'Guizijou, as well as the influence of the Malagasy province of Boeny on local society analyzed by sociologist Ramahefasoa Barbin.

Legal and political perspectives

Saturday's day extended these reflections from an institutional and legal perspective: from medieval texts to the political rupture of 1974 analyzed by Abdou Dahalani, president of the CESE of Mayotte, passing through post-war migration dynamics and anthropogenetic studies on the DNA of Mahorais presented by Saïd Msaidie.

Cultural ties with Madagascar

Among the regional delegations present, the representatives of Madagascar recalled the strength of the genealogical and cultural links uniting the two shores of the channel. Invited to speak on the settlement of populations and rites, the head of the cultural service of the Boeny region in Mahajanga (Majunga), Alida Armand, emphasized a brotherhood forged by centuries.

Celebration of shared identities

Mirroring this intellectual colloquium, the heart of Mamoudzou vibrated from Friday afternoon with "Encounter of Worlds." The opening was given at 1:30 p.m. by a large popular parade departing from the Jean-François Hory gymnasium at the Pointe Mahabou towards the Republic Square, bringing together in a single procession the representatives of the Mahorais, Anjouanese, Malagasy, Senegalese, Congolese, Cameroonian, Caribbean, Moroccan, Breton, or Portuguese communities.

Public engagement through culture

Until Sunday, the esplanade of the capital became a crossroads of discoveries: culinary tastings, parades of traditional costumes and local designers, animated readings by the bibliobus, as well as continuous artistic performances mixing traditional singing and dancing. By combining history and popular celebration, the Department-Region bets that intimate knowledge of its past remains the surest bulwark against contemporary fractures.