Month: December 2021

Like every year since 2018, on the very site of our historical museum. Like every year, the celebration will be solemn, cultural, festive and popular.

With the permanent features (the slave-camp, concerts in the chapel, onstage performances etc.), as well as new ones (showcased percussions, South Africa-Reunion mapping etc.), the 2021 program, offering a whole range of musicians, associations, historians etc., is an invitation to step back in time and plunge into the memory of slavery in Reunion, notably through the island’s artistic, cultural and culinary traditions.

In addition, since the event was born thanks to the departmental project of setting up Reunion’s only cultural establishment focused on the world of the estate and the history of slavery, each year, the Great 20th December celebration is an opportunity for the Departmental Council to present the next stage of this major project.

On the first floor of the former mansion, which is to house the project, will be presented a new version of the outline sketch selected by the competition jury in 2020, as well as the model of the future museum.

The public will then be able to discover the content being prepared, with the ongoing creation of the Atlas of Reunion and of Slavery, the new version of the Reunion Slavery portal, now translated into Portuguese, the latest objects in the collection purchased by various cultural establishments and an artistic residency around the Maloya that has been opened.

Prefiguring what will become a centre of history, memory and culture, we are continuing our long-term work of setting up partnerships of various kinds, on the local, national and international levels.

In the meantime, time for festivities, time to celebrate freedom, time for the Great 20th December celebration for the whole of Reunion.

Cyrille Melchior,
President of the Departmental Council of Reunion Island

 

 

On the programme of the event

 

A MUSEUM FOR TOMORROW
UN MIZÉ POU TANTO, POU TALÈR, POU DOMIN

On the first floor of the former mansion will be displayed and made accessible to the public different aspects of the museum project. These are in the process of being set up, are being constantly added to and all of them reflect the choices made in the context of this Departmental Council project.

 ‘Un mizé pou tanto, pou talèr, pou domin’

Model of the museum project

After the presentation of the outline sketch selected by the jury in 2019, the model will be presented during this Great 20th December celebration. An evolving concept, it will give greater depth to dissemination of information to the general public.

 

‘Nou fé lo plan, nou prépar nout zarlor’

Within the perspective of the richest possible presentation of the history of slavery in the future museum, the Departmental Council is giving a new impetus to its policy of enriching the related collections.
In 2021 will be presented the latest acquisitions: historical books, coins and also a token coin of the Stella Matutina museum (Regional Council), as well as percussions from the Saranghi museum.

 

EXHIBITION OF THE WORK
‘Peuple infini’ (Infinite People)

Over a period of three and a half centuries, history has brought to our island groups of people from Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Asia and other Indian Ocean islands, all bringing with them deeply rooted and ancient traditions.
Contemporary Reunionese society still aims at being a place of welcome and of encounters between millennial civilisations, associated within a single destined community.
The fruit of an artistic residency organised by the Indian Ocean historical image library, the work of interpretation carried out by the artist Lionel Lauret is based on historical portraits and images illustrating the settlement of Reunion island.
The Ico‑nomad emphasises the rich and diverse iconographic historical sources of settlement on Reunion, against a rhythmic background of music created by Rodolphe Legras and Doc Legs.
This immersive display plunges the visitor into History through images, animated thanks to the use of contemporary animation processes.

Projected en several movable screens

 

EXHIBTION
‘Tambour battant’ (Beating drum) by Jack Beng-Thi

La Réunion tambour battant
‘The eruptions of the Piton de la Fournaise extend the territory with their flowing, then hardening, lava.
The Indian Ocean erodes the lava that with its continuous rhythmic beat. The sea pummels the coral reef and the cliffs, smoothing them out, again and again, the sand and pebbles banging together.
The cyclones hollow out the mountain slopes, rain lashes at the roofs of the houses, drumming on the tin sheets, at times hardly a patter then the downpour surrounds humans with its mass of water: it’s the dull throbbing of a huge drum;’

‘Some of the musicians playing Maloya : Granmoun Lélé, Granmoun Bébé, famille Baba, le Rwa Kaf ,Firmin Viry, famille Gado, famille Ramouche, les Batis kabaré, Mamo, Simon Lagarrigue, Nathalie Natiembé, Françoise Gimbert, Alain Péters,
Christine Salem, Danyèl Waro, Ann O’Aro, and all the others, in their yard, in their house.’

‘The persistent roll of the drums beats out their stubborn rhythms.’
Extract of the artist’s presentation text

 

MAPPING ON THE FAÇADE OF THE MUSEUM
Reunion – South Africa

A five-minute presentation will be screened on one of the façades of the former mansion, inspired by a mingling of images and messages extracted from historical documents from Reunion and South Africa.
A work created by Frédéric Brun-Picard.

 

THE SHOP
Focus on the novelties!

 

 

 

Journal d’habitation de Madame Desbassayns – tenu en son absence par un employé : 1815‑1817 (Diary of the estate of Madame Desbassayns, recorded in her absence by one of her employees: 1815-1817)/ transcription of the manuscript by Christel de Villèle; notes and additional documents by Alexis Miranville. Published by Les éditions de Villèle, 2021
Work distributed by the associations Cercle des Muséophiles (Association of Museum-lovers) and Kan Villèle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vali pour une reine morte / Boris Gamaleya. – Les éditions Wallada, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

SLAVERY DAY DURING HISTORY WEEK

 

 

 

27TH NOVEMBER
Organisation: AHIOI: Indian Ocean International Historical Association
President: Prosper ÈVE
Topic: ‘Slavery’
Venue: Villèle Museum
● Presence of contributors – opens of the public – with external speakers
● Retransmission on the History and Memory of Slavery portal
An intellectual event

Already available in French and English, this unique website on the topic of slavery will be available in Portuguese as of 2021.

The Villèle historical museum is located at the heart of a site emblematic of a specific period in the history of Reunion, that of the plantation society that centred around the growing of coffee, cotton and sugar-cane.

Set up in the late 18th century by the Panon-Desbassayns spouses, the Villèle estate evokes a way of life where the prosperity of the masters was dependent on the work of slaves.

In line with its scientific and cultural focus, the Villèle museum now defines itself as a museum representing the history of both the estate and of slavery on Reunion. In this respect, it offers visitors the experience of immersion in the life of a 19th-century colonial property, as well as proposing tools enabling them to understand the period of slavery.

In this age of digital communication, the museum has set up a website dedicated to these topics. It was inaugurated on 20th December 2018, for the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Reunion.

The website is an important addition to the museum’s cultural offer and acts as a specialised resource centre. It currently contains 46 articles written by researchers (historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, ethnologists, economists and jurists).
A living tool for transmitting knowledge, it is constantly updated through new contributions. With this in mind, each year specialists are asked to provide new articles.

In order to link up the Villèle museum to places and establishments evoking the history of slavery and the slave trade around the world, in 2019 was launched the English version of our website entitled ‘The Plantation society, history and memory of slavery on Reunion.’

On 20 December 2021, we publish the Portuguese version and thus open the “Slavery Portal” to the Portuguese-speaking world.

With its new buildings and increased resources and following the important restructuring works launched in 2018, the museum will become a reference and a scientific and documentary expertise centre focusing on its main topics.
In the context of this perspective, the museum is launching a mapping project: The Atlas of the estate and slavery on Reunion island.

The project will take several years to be achieved. Visitors to the museum can follow its progress by consulting the maps displayed in the room on the first floor of the mansion, maps which will be regularly added to.

Initially available in digital format, the Atlas will ultimately be produced in a paper version.

The Atlas: a tool for acquiring knowledge, a way of presenting History

The objective is to gather together all the scientific elements around the topic, to transcribe the related data and to use maps to represent the way in which the estate and slavery, so closely linked, contributed to shaping the territory of Reunion, through its landscapes, its buildings and social organisation.

Slavery: a system of subjugation and exploitation

Slaves, defined in the Code Noir (the legal document regulating slavery) as ‘mobile goods’, were a social group subjected to a political and economic system that deprived them of any form of freedom and forced them to carry out economic functions with no compensation other than housing and food.

On Bourbon / Reunion, during the period when the island was a colony, slavery was both the determining factor and the consequence of the development of the society and the plantation economy which gave rise to the large estates.

The estate: a space of production and servitude

Referred to in the Caribbean as the ‘plantation’, in the former Spanish colonies as the ‘hacienda’ or in Brazil as the ‘fazenda’, on Bourbon/Reunion island, the ‘habitation’ or estate was a rural agricultural or agro-industrial production structure of the colonial society.

On Bourbon / Reunion, different types of the estate were developed, notably:
-Food-crop estates (production of food crops)
-Coffee-growing estates (speculative coffee production)
-Sugar-cane estates (growing of sugar-cane)
-Sugar-producing estates (growing of sugar-cane and sugar production)

To be able to function, these estates needed a workforce which, until 1848, essentially consisted of slaves.

The map below shows all the sugar-producing estates existing on the island between 1785 and 1848. In fact, it was on the last type of estate that the majority of the slaves were to be found.

 

The current health crisis has highlighted the need to encourage links between citizens by offering more and more accessible content, wherever the person is located.
Consequently, the Departmental Council of Reunion proposes celebrating the GREAT DIGITAL 20th DECEMBER using digital tools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kabar la parole: Celebration of the spoken word
A public debate to gather the ideas of Reunion citizens for the new Villèle museum.

 

 

 

The Villèle museum now defines itself as being the museum of the estate and of slavery in Reunion. This new identity is reflected in the ongoing restructuring process of the museum site and a reorganisation of its museography.

On 20th December, on the site of the museum, will be held an event baptised Kabar la parole (Celebration of the spoken word), the aim being to gather visitors’ wishes concerning the future museum, its organisation and content. The process will take the form of audio and video recordings of the ideas expressed.

Members of the public can also express their ideas between 20th December 2020 and 31st January 2021, using the ephemeral website dedicated to this operation.   www.kabarlaparole.re

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibition ‘Slavery on Bourbon island’

For the occasion of the great 20th December 2020 celebrations, the Villèle museum showcased the exhibition entitled ‘Slavery on Bourbon island’, designed and set up by the Departmental Archives of Reunion.
The exhibition, which traces the history of slavery on Reunion, targets schoolchildren, as well as the public in general.

Discover the exhibition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Exhibition ‘Kosa i lé le Kan ?’ (What is the camp?)

An exhibition designed by Prosper Eve, with the collaboration of Alexis Miranville and the Kan Villèle Association, presenting all aspects of ‘the camp’ – the place where the slaves lived on the estate.

To find more

 

 

 

 

 

 

Symposium ‘New approaches to slavery.’ Villèle museum – 28th December 2020

In the context of the Indian Ocean History Week, on 28th November 2020, the International Indian Ocean History Association, in partnership with the Departmental Council of Reunion, presented the history of the estate and of slavery, with a symposium at the Villèle museum entitled ‘New approaches to slavery.’

You can replay the resulting discussions, which brought together researchers working in Mauritius island, Madagascar, Mozambique, Paris, Germany and Reunion, who shared their visions and experiences around the two main topics treated: ‘Slavery in slave-trading countries’ and ‘Abolition, reparation and heritage’.

First part of the conference
Second part of the conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loisirs. Nouvelles de Bourbon (‘Loisirs’. Short stories of Bourbon island )
by Auguste Logeais

This year, the collections of the Departmental Library of Reunion have been enriched with a collection of short stories edited in 1845 by the publishing house P.A. Genesley-Portier (Laval).

 

 

We have very little information concerning this book, only 50 examples of which were printed. The same can be said for its author. We know that he contributed to a newspaper in Laval, L’Echo de la Mayenne, and that he probably lived on Bourbon between 1840 and 1850: his name is listed in the 1847-48 census of slave owners in Saint-Benoit.
The publisher, whose preface indicates the confidential character of the publication, enriched the texts with intricate decorations. Even though the author expresses a number of prejudices in fashion at the time, the book has an additional precursory character in that some of its dialogues and accounts are written in Creole.
Composed of a frontispiece representing Bras-Canot, seven short stories essentially on the topic of fugitive slaves, as well as five letters in which the author gives an account of his wanderings through the island’s society and landscapes. The book presents a collection of previously unpublished literary texts and historical accounts, published a few years before the abolition of slavery, some of them appearing in the press in mainland France.

Consult the book

 

 

 

 

 

FET KAF, live celebration organised by the Foundation for the memory of slavery

To celebrate the Fet Kaf, a public holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Reunion, the Foundation for the memory of slavery is holding a commemoration this Sunday at 2 PM (Paris time), 5 PM Reunion time, in the form of an exceptional live event presented by Sébastien Folin.

A voyage of one and a half hours through the history, culture and society of Reunion with the aim of understanding the traces left by the period of slavery and that of post-slavery following 1848.

 

With Jacqueline Andoche, anthropologist; Jean Barbier, curator of the Villèle museum; Jérémy Boutier, researcher; Gilles Gauvin, history teacher; Mémona Hintermann-Afféjee, journaliste; Maya Kamaty, musician; Carpanin Marimoutou, lecturer in literature; Michèle Marimoutou, historian; Ann O’aro, artist; Jean-François Rebeyrotte, researcher; Christine Salem, musician.

Tune into Facebook account of the FME

 

 

 

Preventive Arcreology, a homage to Wilhiam Zitte
‘ Heritage and creation’ residency by Philippe GAUBERT, at the Villèle museum

Before this exhibition paying homage to Wilhiam Zitte, Philippe Gaubert, the artist in residency, set up to work in two highly symbolical spots of the Villèle museum: the Chapelle Pointue (chapel) and the former slave hospital.

Chapelle Pointue (chapel)
In the Chapelle Pointue, it was decided to offer visitors an installation combining image and sound and evoking the wandering soul of Wilhiam Zitte. The voice of the latter is to be heard and photographs by the artist in residency are projected onto a screen suspended above the altar.
The pictures taken by P. Gaubert, the earliest of which date back to the 1990s, show W. Zitte both in a private and public context.

The installation is completed by the stations of the cross designed by W. Zitte and created by Madagascan women embroiderers in 2007: a creative work funded by the Regional Department of the French Ministry of Culture and intended for the Church of Grand îlet (Salazie). This remarkable work of art is on loan from the diocese of Saint-Denis, Reunion.

Former slave hospital
In this heritage building is screened an original documentary, entitled ‘Omaz à Wilhiam Zitte. Arkréolozi préventive’ (Homage to William Zitte. Preventive arcreology) in which his friends pay homage to him. The video sequences created during the workshop entitled ‘Hommage to Wilhiam Zitte’, created by the students of the Higher School of Art of Reunion are also screened. A selection of original works by the artist, as well as reproductions taken from public and private collections, are presented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN EXHIBITION OF WORK BY REUNION ISLAND’S SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATED BY LIONEL LAURET

In 2018, as part of the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, in partnership with the Departmental Council and the Academy of Reunion Island, a competition was organised as part of the student’s citizenship programme. Using the name of slaves listed in Madame Desbassayns’ will, the pupils were asked to paint a portrait of one or more slaves. 85 public and private secondary schools took part in the event and a collective exhibition of their work was presented at the Villèle Museum.

One year ago, the Departmental Council announced the launch of a full year of commemoration for the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

From the outset, we specified that the commemoration would include a variety of long-lasting and unifying highlights, such as conferences, seminars, concerts, artist residences, websites and awards. And thus the tone was set all over the island, not only for the month of December 2018, but also for the entire commemorative year. One key event was the ‘Gran 20 Désanm’ festival held at the Villèle museum, beautifully staged and lit up for the evening, with several thousand visitors including dignitaries from Mozambique, the Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery, and UNESCO.

It was on this occasion that we launched the new construction project of the Villèle Museum: with this ambitious renovation campaign, the museum up in Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts will broaden its scope and now tell not only the story of the buildings, but the history of slavery as well.

Of the many actions carried out in relation to the 170th anniversary of this major historical date for both France and Reunion, most will live on in the future. All of them are intended to improve and inspire the future Villèle museum, which we really hope will meet the expectations of both the Reunionese and visitors to our island.

La plupart des actions réalisées au titre de ce 170ème anniversaire d’une date historique majeure dans l’histoire de la France et de La Réunion resteront. Toutes ont vocation à nourrir et à inspirer le futur musée de Villèle, dont nous souhaitons vraiment qu’il réponde à la demande d’histoire des Réunionnais et des visiteurs qui viennent à la rencontre de notre île.

In the meantime, the commemorative year will come to an end with the 2nd ‘Gran 20 Désanm’.

With a completely new exhibition, entirely devoted to a slave by the name of FURCY, there will also be a presentation of the 2nd edition of the book ‘Comparative Views about Slavery’, the projection of films onto a big screen, audio tours, a ‘mini online museum’, a re-enacted slave camp, and a number of Creole-style kitchens… As well as an artistic programme bringing together more than a hundred artists (musicians, dancers, storytellers, visual artists…).

We really hope that many of you will attend this historic event.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful ‘Gran 20 Désanm’ to you all!

Cyrille Melchior,
President of the Departmental Council of Reunion Island

A founding act, for an important project focusing on history and memory / memories

For the Departmental Council, the 20th December this year (2018) will take on an exceptional character. The celebration of 170 years of the abolition of slavery in France directly echoes the main cultural project of the Departmental Council for the current electoral term: the programme for the De Villèle Historical Museum, museum of the estate and of slavery.

We wish to organise an important 20th December celebration at the museum and throughout the island. Solemn and festive, cultural and popular.

This is a commemorative year (December 2018-December 2019) which, in all its aspects, will prefigure the future museum, which we hope will become a scientific and cultural centre of excellence as regards the topics covered, as well as a reference centre for cultural tourism in Reunion.

30 or so researchers, about the same number of artists, associations, town councils, State authorities, sports committees and associations, clubs and partners from the economic sector are already working side-by-side with us in order to:
– enrich and transmit knowledge about slavery in Reunion
– enhance and share cultural heritage elements originating in slavery and the collective memory
– give the actors of history a visible and dignified presence
– include the history of slavery in Reunion in the universal and timeless history of slavery around the world.

Other partners will certainly come to join us, since we should like to involve all the inhabitants of Reunion, so that this year’s commemoration may echo throughout the territory, involving an even greater number of local, national and international partners and that the projects of the Departmental Council may be federating and permanent.

Every day we hear about extremist movements of all sorts developing around the world, as well as about people being excluded, in connection with these movements. Reunion must not sacrifice the ideal of unity that its people have been working to construct, day after day, since the historical act which made this possible: the declaration of the abolition of slavery in 1848. Liberty is not created through a decree, once and for all, but needs to be conquered on a daily basis.

In a spirit of dignity and harmony, we will make sure that the 20th December celebrated in 2018 becomes a truly great 20th December and that the year 2019 becomes a great commemorative year.

Cyrille Melchior,
President of the Departmental Council of Reunion

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The Departmental Council invites all the people of Reunion to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery with the artists, researchers, museum curators, associations, institutions, partners from the economic sector and schools.

Christine Salem and Deborah Herbert
“From fields of sugar cane to songs of cotton”

Two artists, two voices, from Reunion and from the United States, in a long-term residency at the museum and in the de Villèle neighbourhood (2017, 2018), mingling their musical, human and cultural heritage in a joint repertoire of 15 or so songs.

First performance at the de Villèle Museum on 20th December. Christine Salem (vocals, kayamb), Deborah Herbert (vocals) – Harry Périgone and Zélito Déliron (percussions). The Amadeus choir directed by Lydie Géraud – Lolita Tergémina (vocals and scenography).

 

Jean-Pierre Joséphine called Jozéfinn’

 

Inspired by the specific atmosphere of the museum site, by the lithograph portrait ‘Célimène with guitar’, conserved at the de Villèle Museum, and in homage to the musician (1807-1864), Josefinn’ proposes original compositions, as well as an arrangement of seminal Reunionese music.

In his creation, the musician evokes at the same time the site of the museum, the inhabitants and the natural environment of Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts, his birthplace. From popular culture to Indian Ocean creation. The acoustic guitar of Josefinn’ will be accompanied by percussions, the timbila of Matchum Zango from Mozambique, and Bongani Sotshononda from South Africa on the marimba.

 

 

 

Max Boyer-Vaïtilingom

 

 

After taking part in memorial projects linked to the history of slavery around the world, the artist will devote his residency to coproducing a pictorial fresco and a sculpture around the topic of intergenerational transmission of the memory of slavery.

The de Villèle primary school will welcome this residency, involving pupils, teachers, staff and parents.

 

 

 

Maxwell Southgate, known as MAK1ONE
Extramural creative residency

 

 

 

Pioneer of street art in South Africa for the last 30 years, recognised as one of the founders of the movement, MAK1ONE will perform in the Moraingy arena in Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts. This residency has been made possible thanks to a number of partners: the De Villèle Museum, the town hall of Saint-Paul, the Reunion Moringue committee, the Kan Villèle Association and the NGO Baz Art (Cape Town).

 

 

Born in a South African township, MAK1ONE experienced the periods of apartheid and post-apartheid. His ascendants were Bushmen and Khoi-san. He has exhibited in South Africa, Europe and the United States and will take part in encounters with street artists from Reunion.