Saint-Martin, guardian of memory
On Thursday 28 May, the Old House in the Quartier d’Orléans hosted the commemoration of the 178th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Saint Martin. Elected officials and representatives from the economic, social, cultural and voluntary sectors gathered to honour the memory of those who suffered under slavery.
The ceremony began to the sound of the conch shell, played by Latisha Stephen, co-founder of the Soualiwomen Kultural Association, at the historic site of the Old House, in front of the ruins of the old sugar mill. This location was not chosen at random: these stones bear within them the memory of those who endured the deprivation of their freedom. 178 years after the abolition of slavery, the Collectivité, in the presence of the Prefecture, chose this site steeped in history to remind us that this date remains a major milestone, but also as a call to remain collectively committed to human rights and the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, in a world still plagued by forms of servitude. Elected representatives from the Territorial Youth Council opened the ceremony with speeches highlighting the importance of the duty to remember, before Amira Ottley sang the anthem ‘O Sweet St Martin’s Land’ a cappella, followed by a performance of ‘La Marseillaise’ on the steel pan. President Louis Mussington and Prefect Cyrille Le Vély then took the floor to solemnly recall the collective responsibility imposed by the history of slavery. The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence.
The Old House: stage and memory
After the moment of silence, it was time for culture. The chair of the culture committee, Valérie Damaseau, opened this part of the programme by speaking of the great figures of the Orléans district and the history of this iconic place. The voice of Audrey Claxton, accompanied by the choreography of Company Ö and Co, then brought the memory to life. This was followed by poems by Jocelyne Arnell and Saby Soualiga, songs by pupils from Charlotte Brookson School, Natisha Hanson’s Vocal Lab and Pianissimo, before the Grain d’or troupe brought the ceremony to a close with a dance.
Throughout the day, the Soualiwomen Kultural Association, dressed in traditional attire, baked Journey Cakes over a wood fire: a time-honoured tradition, ensuring that the memory remains alive.
