René Noyau

To see clearly within oneself and draw on all acquired wisdom in order to explore all human feelings and make them erupt like a comet, like a volcano or geyser, in the midst of a world become fossilised since the first sin of accepting to be shackled.

(René Noyau, Unpublished reflections)

René Noyau: A Biographical Snapshot

Joseph René Noyau, a writer and poet of African and European descent, was born in Port Louis, Mauritius. His birth date is debated: either 14 April 1912 (according to a passport) or 6 November 1911 (as he claimed). His twin brother, Jean Reno, died in early childhood. René had two half-siblings, Emilien and Gabrielle.

René's formal education ended at 14, after which he held various jobs, including dock worker, stocktaker, and bookkeeper. He retired from the docks at 39 to pursue writing full-time. Though he primarily wrote in French, he later began writing in Kreol Morisien.

He married Jane Moorghen in 1934 and had three children, but their marriage ended in divorce after an affair with Véronique Bahadoor, whom he later married. In later years Tatane and Rosie Joyce Bahadoor (pseudonym Rosieb Ahjo), Véronique’s mother and step-daughter, lived with him as he felt they needed support.

René’s literary journey began in his youth, driven by a passion for reading and writing. Immersed in literature, he launched surrealism in Mauritius with his 1934 poetry collection "The Angel with Feet of Bronze". Over 50 years, he wrote under various pseudonyms, publishing poetry, short stories, and political fables.

René's works, though often unpublished commercially for fear of censorship, circulated among friends and family. He explored themes of African identity, colonial oppression, and political unrest, notably with his 1971 fable "Beware Crocs About" in Kreol Morisien, and celebrated his African heritage long before it was widely acknowledged.

His poetry, infused with rhythm and surrealist elements, confronted injustice and oppression. René continued writing until his death in 1984, leaving a lasting legacy in Mauritian literature, with his works still resonating today as part of the post-colonial tradition.