Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about Comoros, an African island nation between northeastern Mozambique, the French region of Mayotte and northwestern Madagascar.
Videos of Comoros are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the producers of these videos and these videos' publishers on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/information-about-cultural-videos-of.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Information About & Five Cultural Videos Of Mayotte (Located Off The Coast Of Southeast Africa):
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INFORMATION ABOUT COMOROS
From https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13229685
Comoros country profile; 20 July 2018
"After more than 20 coups or attempted coups, the archipelago of islands that make up Comoros are trying to consolidate political stability and use their picture-perfect beaches to climb out of poverty.
There are four major islands, as well as many smaller ones, in the country: Grande Comore; Moheli; Anjouan; and Mayotte. Mayotte, however, voted against independence and is still governed by France.
To add to the country's troubles, two of the four major islands, Anjouan and Moheli, declared unilateral independence in a violent conflict in 1997.
The descendants of Arab traders, Malay immigrants and African peoples contribute to the islands' complex ethnic mix.
Natural resources are in short supply and the islands' chief exports - vanilla, cloves and perfume essence - are prone to price fluctuations. Money sent home by Comorans living abroad is an important source of income."...
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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros
"The Comoros... is an island country in the Indian Ocean located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa between northeastern Mozambique, the french region of Mayotte and northwestern Madagascar. The capital and largest city in Comoros is Moroni. The religion of the majority of the population is Sunni Islam.
At 1,660 km2 (640 sq mi), excluding the contested island of Mayotte, the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. The population, excluding Mayotte, is estimated at 795,601.[1] As a nation formed at a crossroads of different civilisations, the archipelago is noted for its diverse culture and history. The archipelago was first inhabited by Bantu speakers who came from East Africa, supplemented by Arab and Austronesian immigration.
The sovereign state is an archipelago consisting of three major islands and numerous smaller islands, all in the volcanic Comoro Islands. The major islands are commonly known by their French names: northwestern-most Grande Comore (Ngazidja); Mohéli (Mwali); and Anjouan (Nzwani). In addition, the country has a claim on a fourth major island, southeastern-most Mayotte (Maore), though Mayotte voted against independence from France in 1974, has never been administered by an independent Comoros government, and continues to be administered by France (currently as an overseas department). France has vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian sovereignty over the island.[5][6][7][8] In addition, Mayotte became an overseas department and a region of France in 2011 following a referendum passed overwhelmingly.
It became part of the French colonial empire in the end of 19th century before becoming independent in 1975. Since declaring independence, the country has experienced more than 20 coups d'état or attempted coups, with various heads of state assassinated.[9] Along with this constant political instability, the population of the Comoros lives with the worst income inequality of any nation, with a Gini coefficient over 60%, while also ranking in the worst quartile on the Human Development Index. As of 2008 about half the population lived below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.[10] The French insular region of Mayotte, which is the much prosperous territory in the Mozambique Channel, is the major destination for Comorian illegal migrants who flee their country. The Comoros is a member state of the African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League (of which it is the southernmost state, being the only member state of the Arab League with a tropical climate and also entirely within the Southern Hemisphere) and the Indian Ocean Commission. Other countries near the Comoros are Tanzania to the northwest and the Seychelles to the northeast. Its capital is Moroni, on Grande Comore. The Union of the Comoros has three official languages—Comorian, Arabic and French.
[...]
The Comoros is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, the European Development Fund, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Indian Ocean Commission and the African Development Bank. On 10 April 2008, the Comoros became the 179th nation to accept the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.[44]"...
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Comoro Islands - Traditional Dance
SEKAMOKE FOUNDATION A US 501c3 Tax Charity, Published on Jul 11, 2008
AFRICA FROM A-Z : COMORO ISLANDS
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Example #2: Island stories: Anjouan, Comoros Islands - BBC News
BBC News, Published on Oct 19, 2015
Anjouan is one of the three Comoros Islands that declared independence from France in 1975. One of its main crops is the ylang ylang flower, which is distilled into one of the constituents of perfume in numerous small distilleries. But many of the inhabitants of Anjouan try to leave for what they think will be a better life in the neighbouring island of Mayotte, which remained part of France and has a higher standard of living.
BBC Swahili's Zuhura Yunus talks to a teenager in Anjouan whose brother is trying to make a living in Mayotte. Then she visits the brother, Ousmani, in Mayotte, to see how he is getting on.
Charlie Newland (graphics and titles), Chris West (camera and editor), Owain Rich (director), Elise Wicker (producer).
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Example #3: Comoros: The Grand Marriage - Al Jazeera World
Al Jazeera English, Published on Jun 7, 2016
Yehia Mohamed Elias, a former Comoran minister for education, married his wife Zakiya 20 years ago. He married his 'new' wife Zuleikha just two years ago.
But now Elias and his wives have decided to take part in the great Comoran tradition of the 'grand marriage'.
The 'grand marriage' is an age-old institution which has been passed from generation to generation on the islands of Grande Comore, Moheli and Anjouan.
It's a symbol of social status on the islands and a must for any self-respecting Comoran, a commitment not even the President of the Republic can avoid embracing.
A Comoran man can only wear certain elemens of the national dress or stand in the first line at the mosque if he's had a grand marriage.
There are two types of legal unions in the Comoros - the small marriage and the grand one.
The ordinary wedding is an intimate gathering and one which has to satisfy the appetite for celebration until the married couple decide it’s time for - or they can afford - the grand marriage.
This is normally at least a year after the smaller ceremony and involves a major series of parties, processions and gatherings that can last up to two weeks and take over the whole village.
The grand marriage is as important for the bride as it is for the groom, with some beauty preparations starting as long as six months before the event. Other women might only take a week of pre-nuptial make-up preparations, depending on the couple's social and financial status.
The grand marriage certainly doesn't come cheap and Elias claims to have spent all his money, over €20,000, on the wedding - not much by modern international standards but a small fortune on the Comoros.
These festivities are a huge extravagance, particularly on these islands which are among the 20 poorest nations in the world.
But while half the population continues to live beneath the poverty line, the grand marriage remains an important beacon of Comoran social standing.
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Example #4: African Diva Comoro Islands - Swahili Wedding Song for YouTube Red - Samra - Bora - UHD 4K
SEKAMOKE FOUNDATION A US 501c3 Tax Charity, Published on Jun 21, 2016
Like Afro ladies Beyonce, Rihanna and Nicki?
There's more talent where they came from!
Discover African Divas on YouTube
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Example #5: ZEL - Mwana Mgazidja / Comores Music 2018
Al Comorya, Published on Apr 10, 2018
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