Culture & Etiquette

1. Sega

   Sega (music and dance)

   Usage

   Mauritian folk music and dance of African origin, danced to the rhythm of the ravann drum

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary and Wiktionary "sega"; the dictionary also lists an adjective "sega" meaning cornered

2. Sega tipik

   Traditional sega

   Usage

   Old-style sega with simple folk-like songs and percussion

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists "sega tipik" (traditional sega); "tipik" is "traditional (of music)"

3. Ravann

   Ravann (one-sided drum)

   Usage

   One-sided drum for sega, warmed over a fire to tune it

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary "ravann" (one-sided drum); "nn" is not a nasal vowel but a doubled n

4. Seggae

   Seggae (sega and reggae)

   Usage

   Music mixing sega and reggae, born in the 1980s

   Grammar Note

   A genre name not in the dictionary; written as in Wikipedia, "Seggae"

5. Lougarou

   Lougarou (werewolf legend)

   Usage

   Folk tale of a werewolf that appears at night, told to frighten children

   Grammar Note

   Wiktionary "lougarou" (the dictionary spells it "lugaru"; here in AKM "ou" spelling). The dictionary also has "fer lugaru" (stay up all night)

6. Dodo

   Usage

   Flightless bird of Mauritius, now extinct and a national symbol

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary "dodo" (the extinct bird); the same word also means to sleep

7. Maronaz

   Maroon history

   Usage

   A word tied to the history of runaway slaves of Le Morne; speak about it with care

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary "maronaz" (state of existence as a runaway slave); it touches a painful history, so use a neutral and respectful tone

8. Kwan Tee Pagoda

   Usage

   Old Chinese temple in Port Louis dedicated to Kwan Tee (Guan Yu)

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary "pagod" corresponds to pagoda, but the temple name keeps its sign spelling

9. Kovil

   Kovil (Tamil temple)

   Usage

   Tamil Hindu temple; shoes are taken off before entering

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary "kovil" (a kind of temple)

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