Comoros

A volcanic archipelago between Africa and Madagascar, Comoros blends Swahili, Arab and Malagasy traditions around the grand mariage.

Spirituality & rites Music & dance Textile & dress Language & oral Food & cooking

Knowledge in this place

Grand mariage (anda)

Grand mariage (anda)

An elaborate customary marriage conferring social rank and the right to speak in public.

Spirituality & rites

Twarab music

Twarab music

A Comorian taarab style sung in Shikomori at weddings and feasts.

Men's cap embroidery

Men's cap embroidery

The kofia, a hand-embroidered cap worn by men for prayer and ceremony.

Textile & dress

Shikomori language

Shikomori language

A Bantu Swahili-related language with several island dialects.

Language & oral

Coconut and spice cookery

Coconut and spice cookery

Seafood and rice dishes flavoured with coconut, vanilla and clove grown locally.