last edited Dec 11, 2019
Culture and Customs of Mayotte
Location Map of Mayotte
Mayotte
Open the interactive map
Arts, Crafts, and Architecture
Arts
Crafts
Architecture
Museums
Customs and Traditions
Local Traditions
Etiquette
Key points on etiquette and behavior in Mayotte.
Dress and Attitude
Sensitive or Taboo Topics
Languages
French is the official language of Mayotte and is spoken by most inhabitants, although around 40% of them have some difficulty with it. Shimaore (a Swahili dialect) and, to a lesser extent, Shibushi (a Malagasy dialect) are also widely spoken on the island.
Glossary
A few useful local words and expressions to know while traveling:
Festivals and Holidays
Public Holidays
In addition to the same public holidays as mainland France, Muslim festivals are sometimes also observed as public holidays in Mayotte.