Port Louis – Carmelo Vaccaro, councillor of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE), participated in a culturally and symbolically rich event in Mauritius, meeting with a delegation of Italians living on the island. The initiative, held on April 19, was conceived and curated by artist and cultural promoter Yanick Guylene, in collaboration with Francesca Beninato, a representative of Italian expats worldwide.
The gathering served as a moment of collective reflection on Italian identity abroad, with poetry at its heart as a tool for expressing the migratory experience—a bridge between past and present, between origins and new roots.
It was more than a literary event: it was an opportunity to strengthen community ties and celebrate Italian culture through stories, words, and emotions. Yanick Guylene performed two musical pieces in Creole, authentically expressing Mauritian culture and creating a warm atmosphere that symbolized the meeting of two worlds: Italy abroad and the host country.
Vaccaro shared stories from his early days as an emigrant, the challenges he faced, and the evolution of his poetic path, presenting two of his major collections: Pensieri diVersi and Pensieri d’Amicizia. As CGIE councillor, he also explained the representation bodies for Italians abroad.
There was a shared desire to establish an Italian association in Mauritius, aiming to bring together the approximately 630 Italian residents on the island, many of whom are active in tourism and entrepreneurship.
The evening concluded with traditional Mauritian séga dances performed by Guylene. (9colonne)