I am going to introduce an island called Mayotte. I choose this subject because Mayotte is my motherland even if I was born in La Réunion.
I hope you enjoy !
I hope you enjoy !
A little geography :
Mayotte is situated in the Indian ocean. Halfway between Madagascar and the coast of Africa, it is some 1500 km from La Réunion and 10 000 km from Paris.
It consists of two main islands, Petite Terre and Grande Terre, and some twenty islets dispersed over one of the most beautiful closed lagoons in the world.
Mayotte enjoys a tropical maritime climate with only two seasons :
- a dry temperate season from May to October,
- and a hot, rainy season from November to April.
A little History :
The earliest traces of habitation date from the 8th century. These early arrivals would have been Bantu people from East Africa, followed shortly by Swahilis.
In the 9th century Arab and Persian traders arrived, bringing with them Islam.
In the 16th century the first Europeans arrived, the Portuguese and the Dutch. They were followed by the English and the French in the 17th century.
In 1841, the Sultan Adriantsouly sold Mayotte to France.
Mayotte is part of the Archipelago of the Comores, which became a French colony in 1946. When the Comores obtains their independence in 1975, only the people of Mayotte voted to remain French, and the Island became a territory of the French Republic.
On March the 29th 2009, 95 % of the population of Mayotte voted to be a French department.
The process of becoming a French overseas department will be completed in 2011.
The process of becoming a French overseas department will be completed in 2011.
A cultural mosaic :
Mayotte has inherited a very diversified culture several origins : African, Persian, Oriental, Malagasy, European and Arab origins.
The principal religion is Islam. In fact 90% of the population are muslim.
In mayotte we speak 3 languages:
- the official language is french, of course
- the 2 locals languages are "mahorais" and malagasy.
Women play an important role in life on Mayotte. Owners of land and houses, responsible for household management, influential in local politics, women are the stabilisers of the island's economic life.
The traditional dress is composed of 2 clothes: a "salouva" like a dress and a "kichal" put on the head or on the shoulders, in differents shapes and colors.
Personally, I have my own traditional dress but I wear it on special events only.
An island where nature reigns :
Mayotte offers an abundance of fauna and flora. Baobab, Tulip tree, blackwood, Tamaka and catalpa can be found in the dry humid forests from north to south. Here too one finds lianas and magnificent orchids there are over 50 species on mayotte among them the vanilla plant.
Here is the famous Mont choungui, the highlest mountain in Mayotte situated in the South.
This is the lake of Dziani situated in Petite Terre.
It is a former crater.
Among the wildlife, there are the maki, whales, dolphins, the roussette ... etc .
The gastronomy :
The local fruits are paw paw, sugarcorne, coconut, bananas, mango, pineaple...
This is my favourite food. It is called "Pilao". It is like Paëlla but without seafood.
Finally, I am going to show you beautiful beaches of Mayotte.
Mayotte has inherited a very diversified culture several origins : African, Persian, Oriental, Malagasy, European and Arab origins.
The principal religion is Islam. In fact 90% of the population are muslim.
In mayotte we speak 3 languages:
- the official language is french, of course
- the 2 locals languages are "mahorais" and malagasy.
Women play an important role in life on Mayotte. Owners of land and houses, responsible for household management, influential in local politics, women are the stabilisers of the island's economic life.The traditional dress is composed of 2 clothes: a "salouva" like a dress and a "kichal" put on the head or on the shoulders, in differents shapes and colors.
Personally, I have my own traditional dress but I wear it on special events only.
An island where nature reigns :
Mayotte offers an abundance of fauna and flora. Baobab, Tulip tree, blackwood, Tamaka and catalpa can be found in the dry humid forests from north to south. Here too one finds lianas and magnificent orchids there are over 50 species on mayotte among them the vanilla plant.
Here is the famous Mont choungui, the highlest mountain in Mayotte situated in the South.
This is the lake of Dziani situated in Petite Terre.
It is a former crater.
Among the wildlife, there are the maki, whales, dolphins, the roussette ... etc .
The gastronomy :
The local fruits are paw paw, sugarcorne, coconut, bananas, mango, pineaple...
This is my favourite food. It is called "Pilao". It is like Paëlla but without seafood.
Finally, I am going to show you beautiful beaches of Mayotte.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING !
THE END =)
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