The Chagossians (also Îlois [4] or Chagos Islanders) are an Afro-Asian ethnic group originating from freed African slaves brought to the Chagos Islands, specifically Diego Garcia, Peros Banhos, and the Salomon island chain, in the late 18th century as well as people of Asian (Indian and Malay) descent. [5]

Mar 17, 2022 · My research shows that the loss of Chagossian cultural heritage is the direct result of historical injustices and ongoing marginalisation. The British government’s forcible removal disrupted...

Dec 1, 2024 · The Chagos Islands, a group of seven atolls with over 60 islands, offer a fascinating glimpse into a unique and complex world. Located about 500 kilometers south of the Maldives, these islands boast rich biodiversity, historical intrigue, and ongoing geopolitical disputes.

The Chagos Archipelago (/ ˈ tʃ ɑː ɡ ə s,-ɡ oʊ s /) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Bassas de Chagas, [2] and later the Oil Islands) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of the Maldives archipelago.

Apr 4, 2023 · After the forced removal of the inhabitants of the Chagos Islands in the 1960s and 1970s, displaced Chagossians have sustained their culture by sharing their music, dance, and cuisine – and created a rallying call in their fight to return.

Nov 27, 2023 · The history of the Chagos Islands encompasses colonisation, geopolitical conflict and human tragedy. The struggle between colonial powers – Britain and Mauritius – continues to overshadow people’s right to return to their ancestral lands.

The Chagos archipelago is a group of more than 56 low lying coral atolls, of which the island of Diego Garcia is the largest. Until 1965, when the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was created, the islands were administered as a ‘lesser dependency’ of the British colony of Mauritius.

The Chagossians are an exiled people from the Chagos Archipelago and their descendants. The Chagos islands were depopulated and all Chagossians forcibly removed by the United Kingdom between 1968 and 1973, to make way for a US military airbase …

The forcibly displaced, chronically marginalised, and geographically dispersed Chagos Islanders from the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean have faced multiple challenges in practicing and transmitting their cultural heritage.

Over the centuries we developed distinct and unique culture on the Chagos Islands. Through language, music, dance, food and art we have documented our history from our time on the Chagos Islands to our struggles now in exile.