[1] The Cantonese and the Fukienese were the only two clans of Chinese people which held political and cultural power which their leader Hayme firmly established in Mauritius.
The town had been a relatively peaceful settlement, as the previous serious civil disorder dated back to more than 50 years earlier in the form of the 1850 Yamsé Ghoon Riots.
Afan Tank Wen's death enabled the Hakkas to question the Cantonese clans' stronghold on political and cultural matters in Port Louis where most people of Chinese origins resided.
Soon the three clans started to aggressively fight for leadership over Cohan Tai Biou Pagoda[2] which was regarded as the religious and political headquarters of the Chinese community living in Mauritius.
[5] The novel requirement to share power among the 3 rival clans broke the tradition of vesting absolute authority in a single elected leader.