Month: December 2022

In order to promote the Creole language and enable the whole Reunionese population to access the Internet Slavery Portal, the Villèle museum, working in close collaboration with Lofis la lang kréol (Creole language bureau) has started work on translating its content.

In order to facilitate accessibility, we are also offering visitors an audio version of the texts written by our researchers.

This year, we are presenting the Creole translation of the articles published under the section entitled ‘The Plantation Society’.
The work will continue throughout the year 2023.

Lofis la lang kréol La Rényon (Reunion Creole Language bureau) was set up in 2006 with the aim of “working towards the knowledge, observation and promotion of the Reunion Creole language in the context of harmonious French-Creole bilingualism.” Since then, it has continued its work of promoting our Reunionese language by organising encounters, exhibitions and cultural events. Our association also carries out important work of structuring the language through research and publications on the spelling, grammar and vocabulary of kréol rényoné (Reunionese Creole).

To this aim, Lofis la lang kréol responded favourably to the request made by the Departmental Council, wishing to offer the Reunionese population a Creole translation of the museum’s publications, such as the pamphlet presenting its three museums having the status of ‘Musée de France’, already issued, and now the texts of the Internet Slavery Portal produced by the Villèle museum.

Once again, this year’s 20th December celebrations will be truly festive 20 Désanm celebrations!

As it has done since 2018, the Departmental Council will celebrate the abolition of slavery:
• by bringing together the population of Reunion around this important date in our history, on a site that is emblematic of the system of slavery, the very site where, in a few years time, will be inaugurated the Villèle museum having a new function and telling the history of slavery and the estate;
• by welcoming personalities and experts from France and from Indian Ocean countries, in order to share this commemorative event.

 

 

 

 

 

The programme for the 2022 celebrations promises to be rich and dense. It will be an opportunity to show that the project for the future museum is making progress (the archaeological dig), to disseminate new historical facts (Edmond Albius is the personality we have decided to honour this year), to promote the heritage we have received from the period of slavery (the Creole language, the Maloya, Creole cooking) and simply to share the celebration of freedom. The 20th December celebrations started in advance, with History Day organised on the site, the organisation of the Villèle cross-country race, the presentation of trophies for races dedicated to maroonage … all leading up to the climax of the celebrations on 19th and 20th December.
Hoping that this edition will be as successful as those in the past, both solemn and fraternal!

Cyrille Melchior,
President of the Departmental Council

 

 

Consult the program

Designed by the Reunion Departmental Archives and the Villèle historical museum, the exhibition presents one of Reunion’s most illustrious historical figures: Edmond Albius, contributing hitherto unknown elements of his life.

 

 

 

 

Edmond was a slave belonging to Pierre Ferréol Edme Bellier de Beaumont, who initiated him into horticulture and botany. In 1841, at the age of 12, Edmond discovered the process of artificially pollinating the vanilla flower, thus contributing to the development of an economic activity that was to be behind the renown of the island, in the same way as coffee.

We have very few documents about his life. Most of our information about him comes from the correspondence of Mézières-Lepervanche and Féréol Bellier, as well as documents from the archives.

The exhibition can be visited in the gardens of the Villèle museum as from 19th December 2022 and accessed online, in its English, Portuguese and Reunion Creole translations.

 

Visit the exhibition

The Foundation for the Memory of Slavery, in partnership with the Education Authority of Reunion, is holding a seminar entitled “History, Memory and Heritage of Slavery”, to take place on 5th and 6th December.

Conferences, exhibitions, documentary resources and teaching tools will be presented to teachers of all subjects registered for the seminar, which will be deliberately cross-disciplinary: slavery will be studied through different viewpoints – historical but also artistic – and will involve music, visual arts and comic strips. The wealth of the program will make it possible to confront different viewpoints and the topics covered will also include indentured labour.

 

 

The seminar will be held at heritage and cultural venues made available by our partners of the Regional and Departmental Council: the Departmental Archives in Saint-Denis for the first day, followed by the Villèle museum and the Stella Matutina museum in the west of the island for the second day.

Consult the program of the seminar