Sino-Réunionnaise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chinese Réunionese (French: Sino-Réunionnais; Chinese: 留尼旺華人; pinyin: Liúlíwàng Huárén) are overseas Chinese residing in Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Since Réunion is an integral part of France, Chinese Réunionese who has French citizenship are also Chinese French (French: Sino-français; Chinese: 法藉華人). They are mostly Cantonese, with a Hakka and northern Chinese minority. They form the smallest[citation needed] ethnic group in Réunion, but 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 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 from Mandarin-speaking parts of China. These were mostly men. Then came a second wave, this time mostly women. Next came the Hakkas, more numerous than the Mandarins. These people too were Buddhist. Lastly came the Cantonese, soon forming the majority, this time mostly Christian. They were traders rather than laborers and had better standards of living than those of the Mandarins and Hakkas.
[edit] Demographic factors
Most Sino-Réunionnaise are Christian, a large minority are Buddhist. The remainder are mostly atheist or Jehovah's Witnesses. An unspecified minority belong to the Baha'i Faith. The majority speak French and Réunion Creole, but Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka are also spoken by older generations.
