Comoros

Map

 

Leader

 

Ikililou Dhoinine took office in May 2011, after winning elections five months earlier.

Travel

Visa & travel advice

To enter the Comoros islands, nationals referred to in the chart above must present a passport valid for six months beyond the date of entry.

• Best period:

Comoros is tropical with relatively constant and stable weather. It has two seasons: the wet season is warmer and lasts from December to April. Temperatures usually reach around 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18.5 degrees Celsius) during the wet season. The dry season is cooler, with lows dipping to around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and lasts from May to November. The warmest month is usually March. Because of its proximity to the equator, Comoros isn’t particularly vulnerable to cyclones.

• Safety:

Because of violence during recent demonstrations, it is best to avoid such gatherings and large crowds. Despite having been relatively placid the past few years, the political situation in Comoros is fragile and subject to rapid change. Generally keeping a low profile and traveling light is your best strategy. Foreigners in Comoros haven’t been the targets of violent crime, but be on guard for pickpockets and petty thieves.

History

 

Comoros was frequented by travelers from Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Arabia before the first Europeans encountered the islands. Arabic influence has been the strongest.

France colonized Mayotte in 1843 and by 1904 had annexed the remainder of the archipelago. In a 1974 referendum, 95% of the population voted for independence. The exception was Mayotte, which, with its Christian majority, voted against joining the other mainly Islamic islands in independence. Today it remains a French overseas territory.

The remaining Comoros Islands declared themselves independent on July 6, 1975, with Ahmed Abdallah as president. A month after independence, he was overthrown by Justice Minister Ali Soilih. This was only the beginning of Comoros's chronic instability: the country has gone through more than 20 coups since independence and has experienced several attempts at secession. Orchestrating at least four of these coups was a group of white mercenaries known as Les Affreux (The Terrible Ones), and their notorious leader, Frenchman “Colonel” Bob Denard. Denard fled Comoros in 1989, when 3,000 French soldiers were sent after him.

Arts & Culture

• Music:

Comoros is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, mostly an independent nation but also including the French territory of Mayotte. It is historically linked to both East Africa and France, and now has a strong Malagasy influence. Zanzibar's taarab music, however, remains the most influential genre on the islands, and a Comorian version called twarab is popular. Leading twarab bands include Sambeco and Belle Lumière, as well as star singer Mohammed Hassan. Comorian instruments include the 'ud and violin, the most frequent accompaniment for twarab, as well as gabusi (a type of lute) and ndzendze (a box zither). Sega music from nearby Mauritius and Réunion is also popular.

Modern musicians include Abou Chihabi, who composed the Comorian national anthem and who is known for his reggae-tinged pan-African variet music, reggae/zouk/soukous fusionists like Maalesh and Salim Ali Amir, Nawal, Diho, singer-songwriters and instrumentalists.

• Literature:

The first Comorian literature was in the form of folk tales and histories laid down in Arabic by princes, sultans and aristocrats.

A lot of comorian lieterature is in Shimasiwa but some writers to look out for are Aboubaca Said Salam, Said- Ahmed Sast ans Abdou Salam Baco.

• Film industry:

Comoros has no recorded cinematic history, but recently HMZ productions, a local company, produced the first Comoran (video) film named "Yéyamba Wandzé MDROU NDO ?". A second movie "Ganima Probleme", released in october 2002, a comedy about passion. A Hollywood drama, "Lorenzo's Oil" featuring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon stirred some controversy. The film was supposedly shot at the Comoros for it's beautiful locations, but the first images in the actual film showing the surroundings was not recognised as being the Comoros. Next to this some tourist tapes have been produced as well as some theatrical registrations of music concerts. However none of these bear any cinematic significance. 


• Famous places:

One of the attractions in Comoros is Mount Karthala, which is an active volcano.

 

The Nouvelle Mosquee de Vendredi is a mosque in the Indian Ocean country of Union of the Comoros. The Vendredi Mosque is noted for its unique Comoran architectural style. The Nouvelle Mosquee de Vendredi in Comoros is situated in the country capital Moroni. The Vendredi mosque is used to hold daily prayers. Visitors to the mosque may enter the mosque in order to observe the internal architecture of the structure.

 

 

• Architecture history:

Comorians live in villages and cities, some of which are fortified. Mosques, palaces, public squares, stone and coral archways called the doors of peace, and tombs decorated with domes and pillars are examples of stone-built monuments. Sculpted wood and coral decorate niches, ceilings, and doors, featuring geometric or floral patterns and Koranic calligraphy. Houses are made of dark basalt plastered with coral lime, cob (mud mixed with straw from rice plants), and braided coconut fronds. Cement is slowly replacing stone, while sheet metal replaces braided coconut fronds. A typical house has two rooms, one private and one for to receiving visitors, and sometimes a living room. The courtyard is used for domestic activities. Boys sleep in bachelor quarters. Women dominate in houses, indoor courtyards, and alleys. Men's territory includes mosques and public squares.