‘Gardyen Nou Leritaz’ – the history of slavery in Seychelles |26 March 2022

Guests viewing the exhibition (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

An activity under the theme ‘Gardyen Nou Leritaz’ – the history of slavery in Seychelles took place yesterday at the National Musuem to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

A travelling exhibition – History of Slavery in Seychelles – was displayed at the museum and will be put up at respective schools on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue while a competition for schools was also launched.

The activity was mainly to talk about the history of slavery in Seychelles.

“There is much that we know about the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and today is a day we remember: the crime against humanity; the unprecedented mass human trafficking; the degrading economic transactions and unspeakable human rights violations. But behind the facts and figures are millions of human stories. Stories of untold suffering ad pain, stories of families and communities ripped apart. But also stories of awe-inspiring courage and defiance against the cruelty of oppressors,” noted the secretary general for the Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, David Andre.

He said that the travelling exhibition is the fruit of countless common projects organised by museums with the collaboration of minorities, indigenous peoples and local institutions.

“The aim of the travelling exhibition and competition is to disseminate and extend knowledge to students and teachers alike on the aspect of history of slavery in Seychelles that has shaped our culture and heritage. The exhibition is to make as many pupils and students as possible aware that our small island country was once upon a time a slave destination.”

During the ceremony, Dr Peter Nicholls presented his research on slavery which he did for his PHD ‘The door to the coast of Africa: the Seychelles in the Mascarena Slave trade’ and launched his book ‘Maroon of the Seychelles’.

Dr Odile De Comarmond also made a presentation on ‘Nou Lorizin – Ki kantite nou konnen?’ while Ruben Lespoir recited a poem.

Interschool competition

The aim of this competition is: To know through the students’ work what they have learned, their thoughts and their opinion in regards to the exhibition; to provide students with the opportunity to express themselves through poetry, drama and artwork; for them to display their creative and artistic abilities and to motivate young artist and help them to develop their creative skills.

The art work should be related to the given theme, creative and can be landscape or portrait and one person can have more than one entries.

The poem should be original and reflect the given theme and can be in any of our three national languages. It should be 20-30 lines.

The drama should relate to the theme and 5-10 mins long.

All those who want to participate should contact the National Museum.

The accompanying photographs show some highlights of the activity.

Vidya Gappy