Joseph Tsang Mang Kin (Officially: Tsang Fan Hin Tsang Mang Kin), born 12 March 1938, is a Mauritian poet, political scientist, philosopher and biographer. A former diplomat and ex-politician; Secretary General of the Mauritius Labor Party, Member of the Parliament[1] and Minister of Arts and Culture,[2] he currently operates as a panel member of the African Peer Review Mechanism, African Union.[3][4]
Fond of poetry, history and philosophy and writing in both French and English, he has produced hundreds of sonnets, essays, plays on topics related to the history of Mauritius, slavery and religion in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius diplomacy, Mauritian literature, the Francophonie, the first centuries of Christianity, the people and the Hakka culture, Chinese philosophy, especially Taoism, French and Egyptian freemasonry and the cultural divide between China and the West.
He is married, with three adult children and four grandchildren.
Early life
Joseph Tsang Mang Kin was born on 12 March 1938, in Chinatown, Port-Louis, Mauritius, as the second child of the family. Willy Tsang Mang Kin, his father, born in 1910, is a Chinese, namely Hakka, immigrant from Moyen, Canton, who settled in Mauritius in 1932, at age 22, and his mother, Solange Atuchen (Wong Sen Siou), was born at Mount Estate, Pamplemousses, Mauritius in 1920. In 1940, Pierre-Michel Tsang Mang Kin, Joseph's only senior sibling, died at age 3, giving Joseph seniority over the upcoming 11 brothers and sisters.
Joseph Tsang Mang Kin was brought up in a totally Hakka environment and attended the Chinese Middle School in China Town, Port-Louis, Mauritius, from 1942 to 1946. In 1947, he attended l'Ecole des Cassis, government public school in Port-Louis up to 1949. In January 1950, he was admitted to the Royal College Port-Louis which he left in 1956, after obtaining his Higher School Certificate.
Raised and educated in the Mauritian capital, Port-Louis, Joseph started dabbling in poetry as a teenager at age 14, composing his first sonnet in 1952,[5] entitled: " Ode to Inspiration", followed by several compilations which he later published, generally orbiting around Philosophy.
Teaching career
In 1957, at age 18, he began working as a reporter in the Chinese Daily News, teaching at the Bhujoharry College and the St Andrew's School, while studying in parallel for his B.A (honors) in English and French from the University of London, subsequently graduating in 1960. In 1961, he married Marie Reine Yuen, and had three children : Oswald, Sabrina and Deborah. From 1962 to 1967, he continued his teaching career at the Royal College of Port-Louis.
Diplomatic career
After training as a diplomat at the Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI) in Geneva, Switzerland, with a fellowship from the Carnegie Endowment fellowship for training in diplomacy, he was chosen by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and sent to Paris to establish the Mauritian Embassy in August 1968, as the Second Secretary of the Ambassador.
In September 1972, he went to Brussels to found another Mauritian Embassy, serving as the First Secretary, and eventually, First Counselor where he participated in negotiations leading up to the signature of Lome I and the Sugar Protocol.
In March 1977, he went back to the Ministry of External Affairs as Minister Counselor and head of the International Division up to 1983.
International civil servant
In December 1983, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation in London,[6][7] where he stayed until 1990. He launched a series of new projects relating to the strengthening and networking of professional associations in the Commonwealth. He then set up Commonwealth Liaison Units in each and every Commonwealth country to group and network local Non-Governmental Organisations to better address issues of direct interest to them at both local, regional and Commonwealth levels. He launched new projects like the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the Arts and Crafts Prize and formed part of the panel of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.
Political career
After retiring from Civil Service in 1991, he begins his political career as the Secretary General of the Mauritius Labor Party from 1991 to 1996, and after being elected in December 1995 as a Deputy for the Mauritius Labor Party, he eventually occupies the post of Minister of Arts, Culture and Leisure, Minister of Public Service, and Minister of Arts and Culture over the course of his 5-year mandate up to September 2000.
He left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991 to join the Mauritius Labour Party and became its Secretary General from 1991 to 2000. He was elected Member of the Parliament in the constituency no.2, Port Louis, and was appointed Minister of Arts and Culture in 1995, where he set up the National Library, the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of History Maurice, and the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture.
He established a dozen CLAC, Centre de Lecture et d'Activities Culturelles in Mauritius and in Rodrigues. He also put up the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam statue on the Port-Louis waterfront. He set up the Mahebourg Open Air Theatre at Pointe Canon, Mahebourg, and the Serge Constantin Theatre in Vacoas. He also established strategic links with France, Britain, India and South Africa to create a film industry in Mauritius, and encouraged using Mauritius as a film-making center.
He introduced the celebration of the Music Day and the Creators and Performers Day. He renovated the paintings of Liuk Chey Sin, founder of Chinese Presence in Mauritius and builder of Kwan Tee pagoda, and of Affan Tankwen, first and second leaders of the Chinese Community.
Conferences and literary activities
He participated in forums in Canada Europe, Africa (Lesotho, Zambia) and Asia (Malaysia) and the islands of the Indian Ocean on the diaspora, slavery, Chinese culture and transcultural. He has just completed a series of Thematic timelines on the Social and Political History of Mauritius, in the Dutch, French and British Slavery and Religion and Chinese. It complements a Chronology of the Mauritian Literature. His poem compilation, Le Grant Chant Hakka was reconstructed in English; The Hakka Epic and translated into Chinese, 客家人之歌. He recently completed a history of the English and French Freemasonry in the islands of the Indian Ocean – Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar and the Seychelles.
In 1973, he founded, with ambassador Raymond Chasle and poet Jean-Claude d'Avoine, l'Etoile et la Clef, Revue de Poesie et de Literature.[8]
In October 1976, he was a speaker at a conference on the theme Langues et Nation, organised by l'Institut supérieur de traducteurs et interprètes[9]
In May 2004, he was a speaker at the Université de la Réunion on the occasion of the International year commemorating the fight against slavery and for its abolition: Memoire Orale et Esclavage.[12]
In January 2008, he was a speaker at the Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue organised by UNESCOCAT, Centre UNESCO de Catalunya, Barcelona.[13]
In April 2009, he was appointed consultant for the Hakka Diaspora Encyclopedia by the Hakka Commission in Zhangzhou, China.
From April 2009 to April 2011, he was appointed Visiting Professor[14] at the Hakka Institute of Jia Ying University in Meixian, Guangzhou.
In 2011, he was appointed Overseas Representative of the Zeng clan for the inauguration of the Hakka Memorial in Fangcheng, China, marking the homeland of the Zeng clan before their migration to Shandong.[15]
An essayist and poet writing in both English and French has produced numerous papers on a wide range of subjects including the cultural divide between est and West, the Chinese psyche, diasporas, slavery, colonization, world affairs, freemasonry. He regularly participates in forums including UNESCO, the Commonwealth and Universities in Canada, Reunion Island, China, Mauritius.
Business and enterprise
In 2004, he becomes the Chairman of the King Group, a group of companies including London Satellite Systems, Mont Choisy Hotel and Fast Shipping (Evergreen).
He also is the Chairman of RedSat Holding Ltd.
From 2007 to 2010, he was the director of the Film Investment Managers of Indian Film Company.
He was also elected, in 2013, as a member of the panel of the African Peer Review Mechanism for the African Union, and currently operates as so.
Other activities
Since 2006, he is a Smart Partner of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management, CPTM. He is also a member of its International Advisory Council.
In 2011, he was the Vice-President of the Mauritian Writers' Association.
From 2012 to 2013, he was the Chairman of the Guan Di Association.
On 26 January 2013, he was appointed member of the panel of Eminent Personalities of the African Peer Review Mechanism, African Union.
Bibliography
Year
Genre
Title
ISBN
1959
Poetry
Paupieres Vitales
1962
Poetry
Poesies: Legendaire, Seduire la Mort, Instantanes, Vie Multiple
1970
Play
Le Capitaine
1975
Poetry
Paroles a l'Heure Heliaque, Au lieu du Centre, Exode et Le Point s'aligne in l'Etoile et la Clef
1989
Essay
Mauritian Missions Abroad – What for?
1991
Report
Projet de Creation de l'Universite de l'Ocean Indien [ Avec Reynald Lamy ]
1991
Essay
Francophonie Mauricienne
1993
Translation
Freemasonry – A European Viewpoint [La Franc-maconnerie by Paul Naudon]
0-7104-5004-4
1996
Poetry
Le Grand Chant Hakka [ Meaning: The Great Hakka Song ]
2000
Biography
Log Choisanne, Fondateur de la Pagode Kwan Tee (1796–1874)
2002
Poetry
The Hakka Epic in Chinese, 客家人之歌
99903-41-28-1
2003
Poetry
The Hakka Epic, First Edition
99903-974-0-6
2005
Essay
L'Heritage d'Hermes, Les Rites Egyptiens de Memphis-Misraim
2005
Biography
Tooblall Hawoldar, Heritiers de la Sagesse venue des Pentes de l'Himalaya (1918–2004)
2008
History
Les Heritiers de la Franc-Maconnerie Egyptienne de Memphis-Misraim [ Meaning: The Heirs of the Egyptian Freemasonry of Memphis-Misraim ]
978-99903-66-27-3
2008
Poetry
Entering the Chinese Mind
978-0-9554402-1-2
2008
Essay
Hakka and Huaren Destiny
978-99903-994-6-2
2009
Biography
Destins Croises, Parcours aupres de Raymond Chasle, Poete et Diplomate [ Meaning: Crossroads, Trip alongside Raymond Chasle, Poet and Diplomat ]
In 2013, he obtained the Brilliance of China Award certificate, 中华之光 – The Brilliance of China Choice for Chinese Culture Promoters of the Year, Beijing, CCTV4[20]
Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island, as well as Rodrigues, Agaléga and St. Brandon. The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, along with nearby Réunion, are part of the Mascarene Islands. The main island of Mauritius, where most of the population is concentrated, hosts the capital and largest city, Port Louis. The country spans 2,040 square kilometres (790 sq mi) and has an exclusive economic zone covering 2,300,000 square kilometres.
The known history of Mauritius begins with its discovery by Arabs and Malays, followed by Europeans and its appearance on maps in the early 16th century. Mauritius was successively colonized by the Netherlands, France and Great Britain, and became independent in 12th March 1968.
Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius. It is mainly located in the Port Louis District, with a small western part in the Black River District. Port Louis is the country's economic, cultural and political centre, and most populous city. It is administered by the Municipal City Council of Port Louis. According to the 2012 census conducted by Statistics Mauritius, the population was 147,066.
Mauritius is a multi-ethnic and multi-language society; it is also a plural society with its population mainly composed of four ethnic groups and four major religious groups; it is often depicted as a "rainbow nation". The island of Mauritius did not have any indigenous population; historically, it was characterized by successive waves of European colonization and multiple immigrations. Under the French rule between 1715 and 1810, slaves were imported on the island from mainland Africa and Madagascar; slavery were only abolished in 1835 under the British rule. Indian migrants from Pondicherry first came in Mauritius under the French rule in 1736; The 18th century also saw one the earliest influx of Chinese migrants in Mauritius, who mostly came from Fujian. Under the British rule, more Indian migrants came to Mauritius following the slave emancipation of 1835. Since the 1800s Chinese migrants from Southern China arrived in Mauritius since the 1800s first as indentured labourers and later as free merchants. Since 1860, Hakka immigration started and continued until they become the dominant Chinese population in Mauritius since the beginning of the 20th century. The co-existence of Mauritians of Indian, African, European, and Chinese ancestry eventually led to a sharing of values and cultures, a collective participation in festivals, and an increased understanding between people of different ethnic backgrounds. Mauritians from different cultural backgrounds are very distinct from each other, and it is also highly unpopular to encourage the dissolution of cultural boundaries in Mauritius. In present days, the Mauritian society continues to be culturally and linguistically French-dominated.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was a Mauritian physician, politician, and statesman. He served as the island's only chief minister, first prime minister, and fifth governor-general.
Mauritians of Chinese origin, also known as Sino-Mauritians or Chinese Mauritians, are Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry to China.
Indo-Mauritians are Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry to Indian subcontinent or other parts of South Asia.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Mauritius:
Mauritius was a Crown colony off the Southeast coast of Africa. Formerly part of the French colonial empire, British rule in Mauritius was established de facto with the Invasion of Isle de France in November 1810, and de jure by the subsequent Treaty of Paris. British rule ended on 12 March 1968, when Mauritius became independent.
Nowadays, no one could still claim his pure race status. Ethnic, social and linguistic differences become each day more and more present and marked all over the world. Time, history and continuous population intermingling across boundaries led to create cosmopolitan beings, that is to say world citizens who, in spite of their singularity, manage to bring themselves together in order to create a unique and single nation. Among the nations most affected by this cross-fertilization is notably found Mauritius. The social and linguistic diversity of this country makes it unique and contribute to its wealth. It arouses curiosity, urges us to deepen our knowledge on the subject and is, to this extent, worth being studied.
The cuisine of Mauritius is heavily influenced by the tropical location of the island as well as the cultural diversity which characterizes the country. Mauritian cuisine is a blend of African, Chinese, European and Indian influences in the history of Mauritius. Most of the dishes and culinary traditions are inspired by French culture, former African slaves, and Indian workers and Chinese migrants arriving during the 19th century. Over the years, communities found in Mauritius have adapted and mixed each other's cuisine to their liking, resulting in the development of Mauritian cuisine. While some popular dishes and desserts are consumed by Mauritians of all ethnic groups or communities, there are also form of cuisines which remain distinctly ethnic and are unique to a specific ethnic community due to their ancestral cultural and historical connections. Local food which varies depending on ethnic communities therefore reflects the strong traditional, cultural, and historical influences of each community.
Bernard Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen GOSK is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mauritius.
Tamil Mauritians are the descendants of Tamil people who migrated, from the South Indian regions corresponding to the modern state of Tamil Nadu, to the island of Mauritius.
Mauritian Creole or Morisien is a French-based creole language spoken in Mauritius. English words are included in the standardized version of the language. In addition, the slaves and indentured servants from cultures in Africa and Asia left a diverse legacy of language in the country. The words spoken by these groups are also incorporated into contemporary Morisien.
The growing of sugar cane has been the dominant industry of Mauritius for most of its inhabited period, until recent decades. The island was uninhabited when first settled with a small base by the Portuguese in 1507. Sugar was introduced on a small scale during the period of Dutch Mauritius (1638–1710), when some slaves were imported to work this and other crops. After about 1735, during the period of French Mauritius (1715–1810), under the French East India Company, the industry developed considerably. In 1735 there were 638 slaves in a population of 838 inhabitants. Thereafter, some 1,200 to 1,300 slaves arrived annually; within five years the number of slaves had quadrupled to 2,612 and the number of French had doubled.
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Port Louis on the island of Mauritius.
Hahime Choisanne (?–1874), also written as Hayme, Ahime, or Hahyme Choisanne based on his Chinese name Lu Caixin, pronounced Log Choi Sin in Fujian dialect and Look Soi San in Cantonese dialect, was wealthy merchant from Fujian province, China, during the Qing dynasty period. He arrived in British Mauritius in 1816 and was naturalized in 1847. He became one of the prominent leading figures for the Chinese community during the colonial period of Mauritius and is recognized as having contributed to the boost of Chinese trading community to Mauritius during the British colonial period. He was also the founding father of the Kwan Tee Pagoda, founded in 1842, at Les Salines, Mauritius, a pagoda associated with the cult of Guan Di, the god of wealth, war, and the righteous and the benefactor. Choisanne was succeeded by Affan Tank Wen, who became the second Kapitan of the Chinese community in Mauritius.
↑ Equivalences, Langues et Nation,1977, revue de l'Institut Superieur de l'Etat de Traducteurs et Interpretes de Bruxelles. Numero 2–3, 1977. p. 63 – p. 82
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