Sino-Réunionnaise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chinese Réunionese (French: Sino-Réunionnais; Chinese: 留尼旺華人; pinyin: Liúlíwàng Huárén) are ethnic Chinese residing in Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Chinese Réunionese who have French citizenship are also Chinese French (French: Sino-français; Chinese: 法藉華人). They are mostly of Cantonese origin, with a Hakka and northern Chinese minority. They form the smallest[citation needed] ethnic group in Réunion, but have had noticeable influences. Chinese cuisine is now consumed by people all over the island, and there are a number of plants and animals introduced by the Chinese. One such plant is a Chinese variety Guava (known locally and in Mauritius and Seychelles as goyave de Chine)
[edit] Origins
Most Chinese arrived in Réunion as skilled laborers, but also as traders and businesspeople. The first group were Buddhist labourers, mostly men, from Mandarin-speaking parts of China. This was followed by a second wave, which consisted of mostly women; and later, by Buddhist Hakkas. Most recently has been predominately Christian Cantonese immigration, soon forming the majority, who were traders with better standards of living than those of earlier immigrants.
[edit] Demography
Most Sino-Réunionnaise are Christian, with a large minority Buddhist. The majority speak French and Réunion Creole, but Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka are also spoken by older generations.
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