Lafami (Mauritius)

This project explores what it means to be Mauritian and encourages people to discuss this question. It highlights how complicated it can be to have a diasporic identity and the challenges of feeling lost between different cultures.

The project focuses on British Mauritians who struggle to see themselves as Asian, African, or British. Many feel left out by these groups because their identity sits between different countries and continents.

The idea for this project came from the creator’s own feelings of isolation. When visiting Mauritius, they felt distant from their family heritage, the history of indentured labour, and the culture. Not having family photos made this sense of detachment even stronger.

For the project, the creator photographed their family and recreated well-known Mauritian studio photos from the 1960s to the 1980s. These staged photos were an important way for families in Mauritius to stay connected during the creator’s childhood.

The project hopes to inspire others to celebrate their families and feel confident in their unique identities.