Mauritius Unmasked: The 1999 Riots

Mauritius is often seen as a paradise island, known for its stunning beaches and luxury resorts. But beneath this idyllic image lies a history shaped by colonisation, enslavement, and deep-rooted social inequalities. In this episode, we uncover the 1999 Mauritius Riots—an eruption of inter-ethnic violence following the death of beloved Creole seggae singer, Kaya, in police custody. How did a musician’s death ignite nationwide unrest? What historical forces shaped the tensions between different communities? And how has Mauritius reckoned with these events decades later? Join us as we dive into the untold history behind the riots, the fight for justice, and the legacy of a fractured rainbow nation. Sources: Carroll, B. W., & Carroll, T. (2000). Trouble in paradise: Ethnic conflict in Mauritius. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics , 38 (2), 25–50. Shadow of ‘reggae riots’ still hangs over Mauritius Mauritian Riot after murder of Berger Agathe Mauritius: Communities of Paradise

You can listen to Mauritius Unmasked: The 1999 Riots online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Mauritius Unmasked: The 1999 Riots is an episode from It's a Continent by W!ZARD Studios.

This episode is 00:24:29 long.

This episode was published on Feb 18, 2025.

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