Geet Gawai and Indo-Mauritian identity in the twenty-first century: In conversation with Jayganesh Dawosing and Anisha Badal-Caussy

This interview aims to explore the Mauritian folk performance tradition of Geet Gawai , its continued rootedness in Bhojpuri cultural memory, and its role in shaping Indo-Mauritian identity in the twenty-first century. Drawing on conversations with Mr Jayganesh Dawosing and Ms Anisha Badal-Caussy, the interview traces how Geet Gawai emerged from the lived experiences of the first girmitiyas and evolved as a women-centred, ritual-based folk performance tradition, performed primarily during weddings. It further addresses contemporary shifts in Geet Gawai ’s performance structure, shifting norms around gender-based participation, attire, overall aesthetics, as well as documentation and commercialization, alongside concerns of visibility, sanctity and authenticity. Placed within the ongoing processes of globalization, the digital age and generational distance of the young Indo-Mauritians from indenture, the interview foregrounds Geet Gawai as both a historically rooted and a continuously negotiated tradition, highlighting its significance in reinforcing cultural continuity, community solidarity and Indo-Mauritian heritage.