Podcasts / Shows
"Cannes à sucre et préjugés" is a two-season podcast series comprising several episodes that offers a thoughtful and inquisitive examination of Mauritius, a country which, to paraphrase Malcolm de Chazal, “cultivates sugar cane and prejudice.”
In Season 1, alongside a range of invited guests, Cristèle de Spéville explores the power structures that shape contemporary Mauritian society and addresses topics often regarded as taboo, shedding light on the challenges they pose to social cohesion and collective coexistence.
In Season 2, Aliya Chojoo takes the lead, presenting a series of episodes in Mauritian Creole that continue this critical exploration of Mauritian society and identity.
Across both seasons, each episode provides viewers with analytical and reflective tools, offering valuable perspectives on the enduring legacies of colonial history, the systems of exploitation inherited from plantation society, and the evolving sense of belonging that connects individuals to this territory.
To learn more about Cannes à sucre et préjugés, please visit the podcast's official website.
"Cannes à sucre et préjugés" seeks not only to educate but to provoke introspection and collective action.
It beckons viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, and to envision what a future rooted in equity and justice could look like in Mauritius.
EPISODE SLAVERY, A PAST STILL PRESENT
In its second episode, "Cannes à sucre et préjugés" delves into the enduring legacy of slavery in Mauritius—a legacy whose shadows stretch across generations, shaping identities and forging fault lines within society. Here, history confronts the present with raw intensity, challenging the comforting notion that the past is confined to history books.
Anthropologists, cooks, and students converge as guests, each offering a unique perspective shaped by their own encounters with Mauritius' fraught history. With Cristèle de Spéville as guide, they navigate the labyrinthine complexities of identity and power dynamics forged by centuries of enslavement.
Together, they peel back layers of historical amnesia to reveal the persistent discrimination and social inequities that persist long after abolition.
SÉ TOUJOURS PRÉSENT
MANAGEMENT OF OUR LANGUAGES
THE HEAVY BAGGAGE OF OUR LANGUAGES
In this compelling episode, "Cannes à sucre et préjugés" turns its gaze towards the intricate tapestry of languages that weave through Mauritian society—a mosaic as rich and diverse as the island's cultural landscape itself. Here, the seemingly simple act of talking and our language choices, becomes a profound exploration of identity, power dynamics.
At the heart of the discussion are questions that reverberate through Mauritius' complex history: Do our languages carry hues of class and privilege? Who dictates which languages are deemed more acceptable, and how do educational institutions perpetuate these hierarchies?
These inquiries lead us on a journey through centuries of colonization and cultural assimilation, where language was not merely a means of communication but a tool of control and division.
Guests from diverse backgrounds—linguists, educators, and ordinary Mauritians—join Cristèle de Spéville in unraveling these intricate threads. Together, they probe the nuances of our linguistic identity.
