Words from World Watchers: experiences of the occult in Mauritius

Poliah, Keren

Abstract

This study investigates the occult experiences of Mauritians through an experimental novel- length narrative including elements of the roman-à-clef, short story, poetry, and script, accompanied by complementary discourses. This research has been carried out because occult experiences of Mauritians have not been extensively documented and the previously colonised Mauritian occult community has often been deemed as savage or uneducated (The New York Times, 1884; Haring, 2001). Words from World Watchers: experiences with the occult in Mauritius presents original research which informs my writing process and creates an occult lens through which I can view the uncanny reflections of the Mauritian world and revisit existing literature to trace the origins of occult beliefs in Mauritius.

The thesis is contained in two parts. Part A narrates the occult experiences of Mauritian participants with the intention of creating a space for Mauritians to speak and be heard. The nonfiction narrative contains five chapters, each telling the story of one participant. My participants come from, or are in touch with, the close-knit community of occult practitioners known as traiteurs [Mauritian Kreol]. Participants narrate their experiences confidentially during interviews and I develop these narratives, rich in Gothic tropes, into experimental nonfiction. I have not invented or imposed these Gothic elements, but rather found them strongly present in the spoken testimony of my participants. I conducted the interviews in multiple languages and synthesised the narratives into English using a first-person narrative voice through a process I recognise as Method Writing. Inspired by Konstantin Stanislavski’s Method Acting, Method Writing is my act of ventriloquism in order to write participants’ stories and protect their identities while getting as close to their authentic narratives as possible.

Part B: Complementary Discourses articulates how I synthesise my methodologies, experiment with genre, and delve into Method Writing to test the limits of my craft, while my dynamic relationship with participants becomes a type of performed experience on the page. I approached my participants with a decolonising ethos, in tune with the wider Mauritian community values of respect and acceptance. In agreement with these values, the practice of Dadirri [translated as ‘Deep Listening’] (Ungunmerr, 1988) coordinates this study by reflecting the importance of cultural knowledge, a non-judgmental view, and a spirit of acceptance while conducting research on taboo subjects in previously colonised communities. Subsequently, this inquiry shapes new knowledge that honours the community and recognises the importance of co-creation with participants when writing researched stories about marginalised subjects.

Ultimately, I use this study to extend an invitation to readers to travel to a complex world and see it through the eyes of my Mauritian participants.

Citation

Poliah, K. (2024). Words from World Watchers: experiences of the occult in Mauritius. (Thesis). The University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 27, 2026
• Keywords: Dadirri – Decolonising – Method Writing – Nonfiction – Occult – Uncanny
• Award Date: Sep 26, 2024