UNRAVELLING LE MALAISE CRÉOLE: HYBRIDITY AND MARGINALISATION IN MAURITIUS

Abstract

This article discusses the understanding of hybridity in Mauritius and the marginalisation of those considered hybrid. The author argues that Mauritius, a plural society, is influenced by essentialist interpretations of ethnicity and that dominant groups living there perceive hybridity as a threat to group integrity and identity. Among the significant minority of Creoles (the descendants of African and Malagasy slaves and those of mixed descent), there presently are concerted efforts to achieve homogeneity by affirming one's African-ness. The author argues that this affirmation is problematic due to the historically negative valuation of Africa and African-ness and because it supports the dominant negative interpretation of hybridity. However, the valuation of African-ness is also necessary in the Creoles’ attempts to deal with the history and memory of slavery. The author suggests that one of the steps that Creoles can take to transcend Le Malaise Créole is to cultivate a positive view of hybridity and hybridisation.