P’tites Annonces · Territoire britannique de l’océan IndienBritish Indian Ocean Territory

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In the Indian Ocean, this directory entry corresponds to the Chagos archipelago, a group of atolls and reefs including Diego Garcia. Presenting the territory requires separating island landscapes from human history: Chagossians developed a distinct culture before being displaced from their islands. Communities living particularly in Mauritius, Seychelles and the United Kingdom continue to pass on language, memories and practices. Chagossian sega, through song and rhythm, carries stories of work, family life and attachment to specific places. Coconut plantations represent an earlier economic setting and lived memory rather than simply a tropical image. Food traditions extend those connections. Fish, seafood and coconut are important in recipes inherited from island households, subsequently adapted to ingredients available in places of settlement. Preparing family dishes and gathering for community occasions provide opportunities to describe knowledge associated with fishing and gardens. This culinary heritage belongs to a dispersed community. It should not be confused with the logistical meals of installations on the archipelago or presented as an ordinary contemporary village society there.