Model and artist Sharon Aléxie grew up in Champagne, France, and is of Cameroonian, French and Swiss heritage. Since the age of 18, Sharon has modelled for some of the biggest names in the fashion industry and currently lives between London and Paris. Sharon’s fascination with artistry burgeoned when she began studying the history of art in high school; she initially wanted to be a designer before she fell in love with painting. In her work, Sharon champions the beauty of tradition over the force of modernity. She finds inspiration in the culture of her home country Cameroon, as well as the cultures she encounters on her travels. One of which is the Comoros Islands – an archipelago situated on the southeastern coast of Africa which she describes as a magical place that ‘completely changed my life’.
The Comoros Islands are next to Madagascar; Mayotte is the most famous one. It was colonised by France but it used to be part of the Comoros. I first visited Comoros in 2019 because all my friends are from there. I have a very personal attachment to this place, the people, and the culture. The island I usually go to is called Ngazidja. There are many places to visit – the city I like is called Moroni. In Moroni there are some amazing restaurants such as Mumbay, L’Escale, MoCafé, and my favourite, Tennis Club/ClubHouse. I like to order Madaba with beef, which is one of the national dishes of the Comoros.
For a small island, it’s quite busy but the most interesting places are the villages for me. Most of my friends come from Tsidjé which is not too far from Moroni. There’s just a particular vibe, I feel like I grew up there. It’s surrounded by greenery and old buildings, and it’s close to the city but it doesn’t feel like it. There’s a mosque where people practice daily rituals and a library called AECT, where the men in the village unite and play a traditional game similar to chess called Mraha. It’s a simple life. It’s beautiful when you get to know people and they treat you like you’re part of their family.
Iconi is another absolutely gorgeous town. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been in my life. I first visited Iconi when I came back to Comoros in 2023, so not that long ago. It’s quite elevated on the coast and there’s a picturesque landscape, it’s unbelievable. There’s a lake surrounded by white birds, where children go diving and swimming and the local people come to purify themselves before going to prayer. It’s quite hidden and surrounded by trees but there’s this little entrance, that’s when you see it, it’s really cool.
The women on the island are very much part of the spiritual life there and with the education of the young people. They have a tradition called Msindzanu where they make a mask made of santal wood rubbed on coral stone which forms a substance that looks like a clay mask.
The island isn’t extremely touristy but there are still tourists that visit a lot, mostly people who work with charities and organisations like Unesco. It’s always better to talk to the locals when you go, and they will take you to the best places. It’s perfect for a sea getaway. I recommend going to look at the dolphins or visit the Karthala volcanoes. There’s also a place called the Salt Lake where there are mythical stories about how you can throw a stone and you will never hear it fall in the lake, if you try hard you can actually hear it but people believe there’s a spiritual presence there. It’s beautiful to see.
It’s not the type of island where you have a lot of fancy things, the point of going there is to live a simple life. There’s a place you can go to in the evening where they sell street food and delicious grilled meat but it’s completely in the dark – without a flashlight the only thing you see is the moon and the stars.
The people who live there are friendly, welcoming and warm. They like it when you take an interest in the local culture but it’s also important to them that they preserve it.
