On Friday December 13, 2024, nearly 200 children from 12 classes from schools in the commune of Saint-Paul participated in the “20 Desamn marmay” organized at the Villèle museum as part of the commemoration of the abolition of slavery. Workshops on storytelling, moring, maloya, braiding and kayamb making were on the program for this event organized by the Villèle museophile circle in partnership with the Villèle museum. We publish the press release below. (Photo: The Department)
Coming to meet the children and the facilitators, the president of the Department Cyrille Melchior emphasized the importance of this transmission work: “It is a question of these young people better understanding the history of slavery in through the discovery of the daily life of the slave, but also of maroonage and abolition.
We are in an approach combining the transmission of knowledge and elements of history through visits to symbolic sites and educational tools. It is also about promoting an emblematic place destined to become the historical museum of habitation and slavery.”
The objective of this event was to develop knowledge and transmission of the history of slavery, the slave trade and their abolitions, as an integral part of the history of France and the Indian Ocean.
Work has started in classes since September. Visits were also organized to raise students’ awareness of the history of Reunion Island through the study of the Panon-Desbassyns dwelling. The “20 Desamn marmay” ended in apotheosis in Villèle, during a festive afternoon punctuated by the restitution of singing, dance and moring workshops, as a preview of the 2024 edition of Gran 20 Desanm which looks promising.
Zoom, Department, Child, Saint-Paul, Culture
