Controversy Surrounding Nas Daily’s Video on Mauritian Identity

Internationally renowned vlogger Nas Daily, whose real name is Nuseir Yassin, has ignited a significant controversy in Mauritius following the release of his video, “The 100% Immigrant Country,” on Facebook on January 7. In this 2-minute and 18-second video, he described Mauritius using the term “immigrant” to refer to its inhabitants, provoking outrage among many Mauritians.

Balea, a 26-year-old resident, represented the fifth generation of his family in Mauritius.

His ancestors, who arrived from India in the 1870s as indentured laborers, settled on the island.

Over the generations, their descendants, born and raised in Mauritius, have become full citizens.

Therefore, Balea felt offended by being labeled an “immigrant” in Nas Daily’s video.

During his stay in Mauritius from December 26, 2024, to January 1, 2025, Nas Daily claimed that Mauritius is “the only country in the world made up 100% of immigrants.”

He also stated that after five generations of immigrants, Mauritius has evolved into a nation of coexistence.

The video features four Mauritians who declare: “I am an ‘immigrant’” or “We are immigrants.”

Since its release, the video has garnered over 12,000 reactions and 3,700 comments, with many citizens finding the term “immigrant” inappropriate for individuals who have been born and raised on the island for generations.

Responses have flooded in, with one commenter stating:

“Mauritius was discovered by the Dutch and then colonized by the British and the French. Our ancestors were either descendants of slaves or indentured laborers. They were not immigrants. After five generations, we are all Mauritians.”

Another user remarked, “We may be descendants of immigrants, but we are not immigrants. I am a fifth-generation citizen; that does not make me an immigrant.”

A third added, “We owe our diversity to our ancestors who were immigrants, but most current residents are not immigrants any longer.”

Some internet users resorted to humor in their reactions, creating viral memes surrounding the term “immigrant.”

In response to the tidal wave of criticism, Nas Daily attempted to defend his position.

Nas Daily commented:

“I want to emphasize one thing: the word ‘immigrant’ is not a bad word. It’s something to be proud of.

Even today, the United States is called a ‘nation of immigrants.’

I think a lot of the radicals need to chill and go to the beach.

The goal of the video is to generate interest and excitement around the story of Mauritius and what it has become today.

With over 3 million views on social media, that’s a success!”

Despite his attempts to clarify his position, Nas Daily’s comments failed to soothe the frustration of many Mauritians who were already upset.

Historian Jocelyn Chan Low weighed in on the issue, stating:

“This video has reinforced the sense of belonging among Mauritians.”

He emphasized that a migrant is defined as a person who leaves their home country to settle in another.

While he acknowledged that the term “immigrant” is not inherently derogatory, he argued that it was inappropriate in the context of Nas Daily’s video, explaining the strong reactions from Mauritians.

Chan Low further noted that both slavery and the indentured labor system have played significant roles in populating and developing the island.

“Though our ancestors came from Africa, India, Madagascar, China, and France, successive generations born in Mauritius have cultivated their own culture, language, and way of life.

Therefore, we identify ourselves as Mauritians. Nas Daily’s video has strengthened the sense of belonging that Mauritians feel towards their country,” he observed.

Nas Daily has become the subject of ridicule on social media in Mauritius.

The reputations of the local content creators featured in his video have also suffered as a result.

Several of them took to their own social media pages to express their displeasure, stating that they had accepted the invitation to meet Nas Daily without being informed that the content would focus on the term “immigrant.”

Influencer Adish Balkissoon expressed his disappointment, saying:

“When I agreed to participate in this video, I did so believing it would showcase a beautiful aspect of our country: the harmony of our diverse and multiethnic community.

Now I realize that the poor choice of words overshadowed that intention.

Hearing Mauritians referred to as ‘immigrants’ upset me.

I completely agree that this does not reflect who we are. A simple change to ‘descendants of immigrants’ could have told a different story.”

Another influencer, Carleen Chan, shared her thoughts on her social media story, saying:

“I truly believed he was creating content to shed positive light on Mauritius by highlighting our multiculturalism and how people of diverse backgrounds coexist harmoniously.

I realize now that I was mistaken, and I fully take responsibility for that.

I sincerely apologize. That said, I feel compelled to ask: can hate and bullying truly be the solution?”

Who is Nas Daily?

Nuseir Yassin, widely known as Nas Daily, is a social media star celebrated for his short videos. He boasts over 22 million followers on Facebook and 8.4 million on TikTok.

In an interview with Defimedia.info, he mentioned, “I grew up in Israel as a Palestinian.” After studying in the United States, he quit his job to focus on making videos.

The vlogger has traveled to more than a hundred countries, and his most recent visit to Mauritius was eight years ago.

“Each year, I choose a country to spend a week of vacation with my family. This year, it’s Mauritius. I am fascinated by the hospitality of the Mauritians,” he stated.

He also released a second video about Mauritius, highlighting that the island is one of the few countries in the world without a military and noted that Mauritius is the safest country in Africa.

Source: Defi Media