To honour its Créole heritage and celebrate the Créole culture, Mauritius is organising the International Kreol Festival that will criss-cross the entire island from December 12-22.

Tourism Minister Richard Duval and Junior Minister Sydney Pierre unveiled the festival schedule at the Musée Intercontinental de l’Esclavage, highlighting the celebration’s national significance.

In a press statement, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, the tourism board of the country, says the festival will be taken to all corners of the island. From December 16 to 20, a festival caravan will travel across Mauritius, bringing Créole comedy performances to underserved areas. 

The statement adds that this year’s festival will, for the first time, immerse the entire island in the vibrant sounds and flavours of Créole culture. The theme, Kréolite boté nou mauricianisme (Creolity, beauty of our Mauritianism), celebrates the inclusivity and unity of Mauritius’ heritage.

Richard Duval

“This national festival is intended to bear witness to the richness of our Créole culture, without which Mauritius would not be what it is. We wanted it to be very diverse and we designed it as a showcase for our Créole culture,” Duval said on the occasion.

Sydney Pierre

“Créolité is a vast worldwide movement and Mauritius undeniably has its place in it. We want this festival, over the years, to become one of the reasons why tourists come to visit us. In any case, all our representative offices around the world have been asked to promote it,” said Pierre.