#comorian

Mohéli

Proposed state: Democratic Republic of Mwali

Region: Mohéli, Comoros

Ethnic group: Bantu, Arab, Malay, Malagasy

Goal: independence

Date: 1991-2002

Political parties: -

Militant organizations: -

Current status: inactive

History

1500-1830 - Sultanate of Ndzuwani

1830 - Sultanate of Mwali

1886 - French protectorate

1909 - French annexation

1975 - Mohéli joins Comoros

1991 - Mohéli proclaims independence

1997 - the island declares its independence again

1998 - Mohéli rejoins Comoros

2002 - Mohelí ratifies the new Comorian constitution

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Mohéli was part of two different sultanates. The Sultanate of Mwali was established by Malagasy migrants. After the establishment of the French protectorate, Mohéli had its own resident but was then subjugated to the residency of Anjouan.

When France annexed the island, the sultanate was crushed. In 1975, Mohéli agreed to join Comoros after a self-determination referendum organized by the French.

In 1991, Mohéli proclaimed its independence and the central government sent troops to pacify the situation.

When Anjouan declared its independence from the Comoros, Mohéli did the same a week later. After some negotiations, Mohéli rejoined Comoros. In 2002, the island ratified the new constitution, which gave more autonomy to the islands.

Mohéli people

Mohéli’s population is made up of Bantu, Arab, Malay, and Malagasy people.

The main religion is Sunni Islam, but religious observance is not as strict as in other countries that observe Islam.

The people of Mohéli speak Shimwali, a dialect of Comorian, which belongs to the Bantu group of the Atlantic-Congo family. However, French is used in official contexts.

Vocabulary

mtsauo - election

Mwali - Mohéli

mwazi - blood

shamɓulio - attack

uhuru - independence

uvoti - to vote

Anjouan

Proposed state: State of Anjouan

Region: Anjouan, Comoros

Ethnic group: African mainlanders, Creoles, Arabs, Malay-Polynesians, Antalotes, Shirazis

Goal: independence

Date: 1997-present

Political parties: Anjouan People's Movement, Mawana

Militant organizations: -

Current status: inactive

History

1500 - Sultanate of Ndzuwani

1912 - French annexation of Ndzuwani

1975 - Anjouan joins the State of Comoros

1997 - the island of Anjouan declares independence

2002 - reunification with Comoros

2007 - the independence of Anjouan is once again declared

2008 - Comoros invades Anjouan

Anjouan was an independent kingdom between the 15th and 19th centuries, but was then annexed by France and finally incorporated into the Comoros. However, it declared independence in 1997 and organized an independence referendum in which 99% of the population voted in favor. The island then asked to be integrated again into France, but the latter refused.

There were internal conflicts between 1999 and 2001, including coups d’état. When the Union of the Comoros was created, Anjouan was reunified with the Comoros. Peace talks between the Comorian and Anjouan government were conducted, whereby they agreed to hold free elections. However, the Comorian government delayed the election and Anjouan held an illegal election and once again declared independence. As a result, the Comoros invaded Anjouan.

Anjouan people

Anjouan’s population is made up of African mainlanders, Creoles, Arabs, Malay-Polynesians, and Shirazis.

The main religion is Sunni Islam, but religious observance is not as strict as in other countries that observe Islam.

The people of Anjouan speak Shindzuani, a dialect of Comorian, which belongs to the Bantu group of the Atlantic-Congo family. However, French is used in official contexts.

Vocabulary

mtsauo - election

mwazi - blood

Ndzuwani - Anjouan

shamɓulio - attack

uhuru - independence

uvoti - to vote

Comorian (شِكُمُرِ/shikomori)

Basic facts

Number of native speakers: 1 million

Official language: Comoros

Language of diaspora: France, Madagascar

Script: Arabic, 43 letters/Latin, 24 letters

Grammatical cases: 0

Linguistic typology: agglutinative, SVO

Language family: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern Bantoid, Bantu, Northeast Coast Bantu, Sabaki

Number of dialects: 2 main groups

History

19th century - introduction of the Latin alphabet

2007 - modification of the Latin script

Writing system and pronunciation

These are the letters that make up the Arabic script: ـَ‎ ـَا ب‎ ب‎ ٻ ث د‎ د‎ ط‎ تٜ‎ تٰٜ ف غ ه‎  ـِ ـِى ج‎ ك‎ ق ل م‎ ن ـُ ـُور‎ س‎ ش ت‎ ط ڟ ـُ ‎ـُو و‎ ی ز ذ‎ ع.

ح, ع and ق are only used in Arabic loanwords.

These are the letters that make up the Latin alphabet: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r s t u v w y z.

Grammar

Nouns have eighteen classes, two numbers (singular and plural), and no cases. The locative classes (the last three) only have one noun each.

There are two types of subject pronouns: autonomous and prefixed. The former ones are only used in the present tense.

Verbs are conjugated for tense, mood (conditional, indicative, imperative, and subjunctive), person, and number. Prefixes, infixes, and suffixes can all be attached to verbs.

Dialects

There are two main dialect groups: eastern and western. The eastern group includes Shindzuani and Shimaore, while the western one is composed of Shimwali and Shingazija.

Comoros 🇰🇲

Basic facts

Official name: جمهورية القمر المتحدة (Jamhuriyat al-Qumur al-Muttaḥida)/Udzima wa Komori/Union des Comores (Arabic/Comorian/French) (Union of the Comoros)

Capital city: Moroni

Population: 852,075 (2023)

Demonym: Comorian

Type of government: federal presidential republic

Head of state and government: Azali Assoumani (President)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $3.43 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 45% (medium) (2013)

Human Development Index: 0.586 (medium) (2022)

Currency: Comorian franc (KMF)

Fun fact: Although it is one of the least populous countries in the world, it is one of the most densely populated.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from the Arabic word qamar, which means “moon”.

Geography

The Comoros is located in Southeastern Africa, between Mozambique and Madagascar, and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

The islands have a tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures range from 14 °C (57.2 °F) in winter to 30 °C (86 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 26 °C (78.8 °F).

The country is divided into three autonomous islands (al-ǧuzur al-mustaqila/îles autonomes), which are further divided into sixteen prefectures (al-muḥāfaẓāt/préfectures). The largest cities in the Comoros are Moroni, Mutsamudu, Ouani, Mandza, and Fomboni.

History

8th-13th centuries: arrival of the Austronesians

1505: the first Europeans arrive

1843-1946: Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies

1942-1946: British occupation

1946-1975: Territory of the Comoros

1975-1978: State of the Comoros

1978-2001: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

1997-2001: secession of Anjouan and Mohéli

2001-present: Union of the Comoros

2008: invasion of Anjouan

Economy

The Comoros mainly imports from France, Pakistan, and China and exports to India, Singapore, and France. Its top exports are cloves, essential oils, and vanilla.

It is rich in spices, vanilla, and ylang-ylang, whose essential oil is used in the perfume industry. Agriculture represents 50% of the GDP, followed by services (40%) and industry (10%).

The Comoros is a member of the African Union, la Francophonie, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

97.1% of the population is ethnically Comorian, while the Makua account for 1.6%. The main religion is Islam, practiced by 98% of the population, all of which are Sunni.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman. 29.9% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 67.2 years and the median age is 20.9 years. The literacy rate is 56.5%.

Languages

The official languages of the country are Arabic, Comorian, and French. Comorian is spoken by 96.9% of the population and French by 25.9%. Arabic is not spoken as a first language.

Culture

Comorian culture reflects the influence of Islam and East African traditions. Lineage membership and immovable goods are inherited through the matrilineal side, while patronymics and other goods are passed in the male line.

Men traditionally wear a long, white robe (nkandu) and a white cap with embroidered patterns (kofia). Women wear a long and colorful dress (shiromani) and a shawl (leso) over their head and shoulders and often cover their face with a sandalwood paste (msindzano) to protect it from the sun.

Architecture

Traditional houses in the Comoros are made of adobe and have thatched roofs.

Cuisine

The Comorian diet is based on cassava, fish, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include langoustine à la vanille (lobster with vanilla sauce), m’tsolola (a stew with bananas, coconut milk, and seafood or meat), mkatra siniya (rice and coconut cake with spices), mshakiki (marinated skewered beef), and roti ya houma pampa (dried salt cod in a sauce of onion and tomato).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Muslim countries, the Comoros celebrates Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Mawlid, and Israʾ and Miʿraj. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

Specific Comorian holidays include Cheikh Al Maarouf Day on March 18, which commemorates the death of an Islamic preacher; National Day on July 6, and Maoré Day on November 12.

National Day

Other celebrations include the Marriage of the Trees, in which people dress up as trees, sing, and dance to ensure a bountiful harvest; the Ngoma Ya Mze Festival, which honors the elderly, and the Shindzuani Festival, which celebrates the harvest season.

Shindzuani Festival

Landmarks

There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Landmarks include Dziani Boundouni, a sulfur crater lake; the Grand Mosque du Vendredi; Mohéli Marine Park; Mount Karthala, an active volcano, and the Sultan’s Palace.

Grand Mosque du Vendredi

Famous people

Ali Zamir - writer

Ayouba Ali Sihame - swimmer

Chaehoi Fatihou - weightlifter

Chamsia Sagaf - singer

Harimia Ahmed - lawyer

Jimmy Abdou - soccer player

Lubaina Himid - painter

Maoulida Darouèche - hurdler

Mohammed Toihiri - writer

Nawal - musician

Ali Zamir