Franco-Mauritians (French: Franco-Mauriciens) form an ethnic group of white people in Mauritius who trace their ethnic ancestry to France and ethnic French people. Franco-Mauritians make up approximately 2% of the country's population. Other than documented European ancestry, it is their skin colour which distinguishes Franco-Mauritians from the rest of ethnic groups in Mauritius, where they are also known as blancs or blanches.[1]
The first French settlers arrived in Mauritius (then Isle de France) in 1722, after the previous attempts of settlement by the Dutch had failed, and the island had once again become abandoned. They lived and prospered on the island, ruling it until the British invasion of 1810. The French by now strongly identified with the island, and the terms of capitulation allowed the settlers to live on as a distinct Francophone ethnic group for the next 158 years under British rule before Mauritius attained independence. By 1920 the French Mauritian population on the island was between 70,000 and 80,000, around 20% of the total population.[2]
Not all Franco-Mauritians have pure French lineage; many also have British or other European ancestors that came to Mauritius and were absorbed in the Franco-Mauritian community or the gens de couleur (Coloureds). Within the Afro-Creole community, a significant proportion of them have some degree of French lineage.[3]
Demographic factorsedit
Franco-Mauritians comprise 2% of the population of Mauritius and own many of the largest businesses in the country.[4] Most Franco-Mauritians are Roman Catholic.
Changes to political and economic dominanceedit
The Franco-Mauritian group was conceptualized as a dominant minority by French political analyst Catherine Boudet. According to the researcher, the Franco-Mauritians minority sought to legitimize its dominant position and maintain its identity threatened under the challenge of decolonisation, by resorting to emigration to South Africa. The designation of the group as « Franco-Mauritian » indicates a plurality of social meanings and reveals the ambivalent positioning of the group within the multiethnic society of Mauritius after the shattering of the colonial order by independence. Dominant ethnicity in Mauritius traces its roots in the system of slavery of the 18th century which conferred to the minority of French descent a structural dominant position based on race in the colonial society. The economic and political hegemony of the group was further strengthened by its acquisition of the monopoly over the sugar industry throughout the 19th century. As a French colony until the early 1800s the application of the decree Code Noir on the island limited activities of free people of color, forced conversion of slaves to Catholicism, and it defined the various forms of punishments meted out by Franco-Mauritians.[5] However, group identification shifted from a racially-based to an ethnically based following the massive introduction of Indian immigrants. The Franco-Mauritian domination was eventually challenged by the rise of economic and political elites within the other groups of the Mauritian plural society, and by the independence granted in 1968 when the political power went to the Hindu majority. Emigration to South Africa then appeared as the ultimate strategy for many Franco-Mauritians to allow them retain their dominant position and identity.[6][7]
Notable peopleedit
Angry Anderson, rock singer-songwriter, television presenter-reporter and actor
^Salverda, Tijo. "Still standing: the maintenance of a white elite in Mauritius" (PDF). International Institute for Asian Studies University in Leiden, Netherlands. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
^"Sentimental domain" (PDF). New York Times. 11 January 1920. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^"The Case of Franco-Mauritians : A Pollinized Diaspora". Cairn Info. March 2007. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
^"The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies". The Economist. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
^"Tribune : Le Code Noir l'esclavage gravé dans la loi". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
^Boudet, Catherine (2006). "Une minorité ethnique dominante et son identité face à la décolonisation : l'émigration franco-mauricienne en Afrique du Sud (1947-68)". Journal of Mauritian Studies. New Series. 3 (1): 26–49.
^"Portrait: Tijo Salverda, l'anthropologue hollandais qui a étudié les franco-mauriciens". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
January 01, 1970
franco, mauritians, french, franco, mauriciens, form, ethnic, group, white, people, mauritius, trace, their, ethnic, ancestry, france, ethnic, french, people, make, approximately, country, population, other, than, documented, european, ancestry, their, skin, c. Franco Mauritians French Franco Mauriciens form an ethnic group of white people in Mauritius who trace their ethnic ancestry to France and ethnic French people Franco Mauritians make up approximately 2 of the country s population Other than documented European ancestry it is their skin colour which distinguishes Franco Mauritians from the rest of ethnic groups in Mauritius where they are also known as blancs or blanches 1 Franco MauritiansTotal population2 of the population of MauritiusRegions with significant populationsMauritius South Africa AustraliaLanguagesFrench Mauritian CreoleReligionMajority Catholicism Contents 1 Origins 2 Demographic factors 3 Changes to political and economic dominance 4 Notable people 5 See also 6 ReferencesOrigins editThe first French settlers arrived in Mauritius then Isle de France in 1722 after the previous attempts of settlement by the Dutch had failed and the island had once again become abandoned They lived and prospered on the island ruling it until the British invasion of 1810 The French by now strongly identified with the island and the terms of capitulation allowed the settlers to live on as a distinct Francophone ethnic group for the next 158 years under British rule before Mauritius attained independence By 1920 the French Mauritian population on the island was between 70 000 and 80 000 around 20 of the total population 2 Not all Franco Mauritians have pure French lineage many also have British or other European ancestors that came to Mauritius and were absorbed in the Franco Mauritian community or the gens de couleur Coloureds Within the Afro Creole community a significant proportion of them have some degree of French lineage 3 Demographic factors editFranco Mauritians comprise 2 of the population of Mauritius and own many of the largest businesses in the country 4 Most Franco Mauritians are Roman Catholic Changes to political and economic dominance editThe Franco Mauritian group was conceptualized as a dominant minority by French political analyst Catherine Boudet According to the researcher the Franco Mauritians minority sought to legitimize its dominant position and maintain its identity threatened under the challenge of decolonisation by resorting to emigration to South Africa The designation of the group as Franco Mauritian indicates a plurality of social meanings and reveals the ambivalent positioning of the group within the multiethnic society of Mauritius after the shattering of the colonial order by independence Dominant ethnicity in Mauritius traces its roots in the system of slavery of the 18th century which conferred to the minority of French descent a structural dominant position based on race in the colonial society The economic and political hegemony of the group was further strengthened by its acquisition of the monopoly over the sugar industry throughout the 19th century As a French colony until the early 1800s the application of the decree Code Noir on the island limited activities of free people of color forced conversion of slaves to Catholicism and it defined the various forms of punishments meted out by Franco Mauritians 5 However group identification shifted from a racially based to an ethnically based following the massive introduction of Indian immigrants The Franco Mauritian domination was eventually challenged by the rise of economic and political elites within the other groups of the Mauritian plural society and by the independence granted in 1968 when the political power went to the Hindu majority Emigration to South Africa then appeared as the ultimate strategy for many Franco Mauritians to allow them retain their dominant position and identity 6 7 Notable people editAngry Anderson rock singer songwriter television presenter reporter and actor Heather Arseth swimmer represented Mauritius at 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics Claude de Baissac Lise de Baissac Joanna Berenger politician Paul Berenger former Prime Minister of Mauritius Benoit Bouchet windsurfer Havana Brown Mauritian Australian DJ singer recording artist record producer songwriter and dancer Antoine Toussaint de Chazal plantation owner and artist Enzo Couacaud Mauritian born French Tennis Player Adrien d Epinay politician and slave owner Prosper d Epinay sculptor and caricaturist Remi Feuillet judoka Laurina Fleure Australian Model and TV Personality Andrew Florent Australian tennis player Oliver Florent Australian rules footballer Firoz Ghanty painter poet and activist Marinne Giraud tennis player Genevieve Gregson Australian Athlete Aurelie Halbwachs cyclist represented Mauritius at 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics Camille Koenig swimmer Marie Leblanc writer J M G Le Clezio a French author of Franco Mauritian origins awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature Chad le Clos swimmer representing South Africa Yannick Lincoln cyclist Francoise Lionnet professor Amedee Maingard war hero politician and businessman Alfred de Marigny author Jean Paul de Marigny footballer Football Manager former Socceroo Priscilla Morand judoka Virgile Naz lawyer and politician Francoise Pascal actress singer dancer fashion model and producer Marie Helene Pierre badminton player Charles Thomi Pitot politician Pierre De Sornay writer Auguste Toussaint archivist and author Joseph Desire Tholozan Nasseredin Shah s personal physician pioneer in epidemiology Alix d Unienville spy war hero and author Corinne Leclair swimmer represented Mauritius at 1992 Summer Olympics Veronique Marrier D Unienville archer represented Mauritius at 2008 Summer OlympicsSee also editMauritian of Indian origin Mauritian of African origin Mauritian of Chinese origin White Africans of European ancestryReferences edit Salverda Tijo Still standing the maintenance of a white elite in Mauritius PDF International Institute for Asian Studies University in Leiden Netherlands Retrieved 2007 10 15 Sentimental domain PDF New York Times 11 January 1920 Retrieved 14 April 2020 The Case of Franco Mauritians A Pollinized Diaspora Cairn Info March 2007 Retrieved 2020 04 12 The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies The Economist 2 September 2017 Retrieved 2 September 2017 Tribune Le Code Noir l esclavage grave dans la loi Le Mauricien Retrieved 2023 02 01 Boudet Catherine 2006 Une minorite ethnique dominante et son identite face a la decolonisation l emigration franco mauricienne en Afrique du Sud 1947 68 Journal of Mauritian Studies New Series 3 1 26 49 Portrait Tijo Salverda l anthropologue hollandais qui a etudie les franco mauriciens Le Mauricien Retrieved 2015 12 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franco Mauritians amp oldid 1221075570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
