"Art is important. It shapes our lives, allows us to travel, transports and transcends us," as so eloquently stated by French sculptor Sylvain Subervie in an interview about his work “Les guerriers boucliers”. This expression takes on its full meaning in this new edition. We now find ourselves in Issue 17 of Mozaïk, the digital cultural magazine of the Indian Ocean.
We are celebrating a journey of constant evolution. Each step, each choice, each challenge overcome has shaped us and allowed us to reinvent ourselves and grow. Yet, despite this journey, our objective remains the same: to offer our readership high-quality, relevant, and inspiring content. The world is changing, and so are we, but our commitment to our values, our vision, and our goals remains steadfast. In our pages, art takes many forms, and culture is a shared treasure to be enjoyed and passed on without moderation.
In this 17th issue of Mozaïk, the editorial team is delighted to take you, dear reader, on a sensory journey across the globe. To begin with, let yourself get lost in the primary virgin forests of Chiapas, Mexico—the ancestral land of vanilla, which is now cultivated in various tropical regions of the world, including Madagascar and Réunion Island.
This spice, one of the most expensive and sought-after in the world, faces numerous challenges due to its significant role in the global economy—not least the increasingly destructive climate events of recent years. Our journalists offer a retrospective look at the history of cyclonic systems that have marked the Indian Ocean region over the past decades.
Looking back, it is difficult to speak of vanilla without mentioning slavery—two subjects linked by a complex history, particularly due to the cultivation of this orchid in European colonies during the 19th and 20th centuries. In this context, this new issue is a heartfelt tribute to Edmond Albius, a 19th-century enslaved man from Réunion Island, who revolutionized vanilla cultivation by inventing a manual pollination method that is still used today. Along similar lines, Mauritius will commemorate in 2025 the 190th anniversary of the abolition of slavery—an important milestone in the country’s history, which, despite its painful past, has succeeded in building a nation proud of its diversity.
And this is just a taste of what’s to come: captivating stories, practical information, interviews with talented artists, and portraits of those who live through their passion. Each page is a promise of unforgettable discoveries, breathtaking landscapes, and inspiring works of art.
Happy reading!
- Joachin Michaël Rakotoarisoa