This Friday, December 20, the people of Reunion Island will commemorate the abolition of slavery in Reunion Island. Festivities are organized all over the island, sometimes over several days. Find the program, municipality by municipality.
On December 20, 1848, Joseph Sarda Garriga, Commissioner of the Republic, proclaimed the abolition of slavery in Reunion, a few months after the final adoption by two decrees in April.
Commemoration day, December 20 is a non-working day on the island. Municipalities with associations and artists organize festivities throughout the island to celebrate this day.
A dense program has been put in place by the municipality to celebrate Fèt Kaf. The Gran Parade la Liberté will leave at 5 p.m. from the Jardin de l’Etat on Friday, December 20, to travel through the streets of Paris and de la Victoire.
27 artists from Mozambique will be present at the Jardin du Barachois from 7 p.m. for an evening of dance and concert.
Traffic restrictions are in place.
To access the festivities, shuttles are available to the public. Free Citypark car parks from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
A village will be held in the Jardins de la plage from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday December 20, with a risofé, an exhibition or manufacturing workshops. A large stage will be set up at Place Albany for an evening of concerts from 7 p.m., on the program: Niama, a musical with Christine Salem, but also Firmin Viry, Etinsel Maloya and Baster. The Maronès show written by Sully Andoche will be performed at 2 p.m. in Montvers-les-Hauts.
The town of Saint-Louis celebrates Désanm 20 over 2 days, Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December. A Kreol village is set up over these 2 days from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Moulin Maïs in Bois-de-Nèfles Cocos. A Kabar will be held there this Thursday, December 19 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, December 20, a parade is organized from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from Sin Lwi town hall to Moulin Maïs. He will be followed by Ron Maloya from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Saint-Benoît, the town and associations commemorate the abolition of slavery on Friday December 20 on the seafront esplanade. A parade is planned there from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a Ron kaloubadia and tasting of lontan cakes, shows from 5:20 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. and concerts from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festivities will take place in the neighborhoods of Saint-Paul. From Thursday December 19 at l’Eperon, then Friday December 20 at Etang Saint-Paul, Bois-de-Nèfles, Bellemène, Carosse and La Saline.
From December 16 to 22, Saint-André celebrates Fèt Kaf through a week of shared memory to “honor the roots and heritage of Reunion.” On Friday, December 20, a large kabar will be held at 6 p.m. in the city center on the town hall square.
Neighborhood associations are celebrating the 20th of December on Friday December 20 in Bras-Mouton and Maduran, a kabar will be held on Saturday December 21 at the Roger Poudroux media library and a heritage walk on Sunday December 22.
At La Possession, the festivities will take place in the neighborhoods: Thursday, December 19 in Pichette from 5:30 p.m., Haut-Là from 10 a.m. and Camp Magloire from 6:30 p.m., Friday, December 20 in Saint-Laurent from 4 p.m. and Bœuf-Mort 5:30 p.m. and Sunday December 21 at Dos d’Ane from 7 p.m.
Parade, laying of wreaths, activities and concerts will be offered on Friday, December 20 to Saint-Josephois, from 9 a.m.
A Vilaz Liberté will be set up at the Black Virgin in La Rivière-des-Pluies, with a historical heritage circuit, a release of doves at 10:30 a.m. and concerts.
The town is organizing the festivities on Friday December 20 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Gilbert Delgard stadium. A Creole village will host a cozé round with Raymond Lucas, a culinary workshop, a tractor parade and different artists.
In Sainte-Suzanne, a large parade will leave from the town hall square this Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m., followed by an evening of concerts. On Friday, December 20, the Relais des Marrons will start there at 9 a.m. Other activities are also on the program.
On Thursday December 19 and Friday December 20, the Domaine du Relais in Petite-Ile hosts the Lambians Creole festival. On the program is a torchlight parade from 6:30 p.m. this Thursday and concerts. A heritage village and concerts will also be held on Friday.
From 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Port neighborhoods will come alive this Friday, December 20 to celebrate Freedom Day.
The festivities will be held at the Jacoto space at Rivière de l’Est on Friday, December 20, from 10 a.m. A Kabar “place des lavas” will be held from 5 p.m.
Concerts, the Ruisseau parade at the city center stadium and other activities will be offered this Friday, December 20 at Les Avirons.
On Friday, December 20 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the public will be able to find an exhibition on the abolition of slavery in the town hall’s wedding hall. A torch relay is also organized at the end of the day.
In Bras-Panon, a major concert will be organized on Saturday December 21 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Place Michel-Debré.
The circus commune will celebrate the abolition of slavery on Saturday, December 21 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the program, tastings of lontan flavors, cultural workshops, a pepper eating competition and local artists.
