In May, several events are offered in the Pays de Montfaucon around a historical fact rediscovered, popularized and staged thanks to the work of a renowned archaeologist, Max Guérout. The exhibition can be seen in Dunières, in the halls of the town hall.
This story dates back to 1761. A French ship, the Utile, loaded with slaves, ran aground on a small desert island 450 km from Madagascar. The French sailors fled on a makeshift raft and promised the 80 Malagasy slaves abandoned to their fate with some food, to come and recover them. They will have to wait 15 years on this small, inhospitable treeless island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There they will develop treasures of ingenuity and abnegation to maintain a semblance of life. In the end, after 15 years of waiting, the last seven survivors and a baby will be rescued by a ship commanded by the knight Tromelin in 1776, a few years before the abolition of slavery.
A tenacious enthusiast at work
From 2006 to 2013, Max Guérout, former naval officer, founder of the naval archeology research group, will lead four expeditions to understand what had happened. Under his leadership, underwater and terrestrial excavations were carried out on the island of Tromelin.
Memories of the slave trade, of slavery, of their abolition
Objects have been brought back and they are currently on display in Dunières, at the town hall. Supported by the Regional Department of Cultural Affairs, the launch of this artistic and cultural education project (EAC) “Tromelin, the island of forgotten slaves”is part of the national day of commemoration of the memories of the slave trade, slavery and their abolition which takes place every year on May 10.
Expo visible until July 31
The 100 m2 exhibition retraces this painful episode, giving insight into the daily life of these castaways through what the excavations have brought to light. It highlights, with relevance, sensitivity and pedagogy, a disastrous part of our history.
“Tromelin, the island of forgotten slaves” is on view until July 31: Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free guided tours for groups are possible on request on Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning.
A comic book signing on Friday
Sylvain Savoia took part in the second excavation campaign in 2008 and brought back a comic book sketching moments of life on site and reconstruction scenes of the shipwreck. The book was published in 2015.
The author and screenwriter will be signing on Friday May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Dunières media library.
A Saturday tale in Montregard
Fred Lavial and Delphine Thouilleux of the Konsl’diz collective have created a show “The Forgotten on Sand Island. Fred Lavial is also behind the coming of the exhibition, Max Guérout and Sylvain Savoia to Dunières They will present this precious show at the Avignon Festival this summer.
The two storytellers Fred Lavial and Delphine Thouilleux play Saturday May 13 at 8:30 p.m. in the village hall of Montregard.
2023-05-12 10:23:05
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