In the context of the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) and the UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition, an exhibition on the theme 1722- 2022: Commemoration of the French Trade in Enslaved Persons in Mauritius, was launched on Tuesday in Port-Louis.
The Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr Avinash Teeluck, the Chairperson of the Intercontinental Slavery Museum Ltd (ISM), Mr Jean Maxy Simonet, and other personalities, were present at this initiative of the ISM which aims to inscribe the tragedy of slave trade in the memory of the public.
In his address, Minister Teeluck underlined that the Mauritian history is marked by the arrival of slaves and indentured labourers who have significantly contributed to the cultural, social and economic development of the country.
He paid tribute to the hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice of the slaves while adding that the exhibition demonstrates the commitment of all stakeholders to raise awareness on the legacies of slavery and slave trade, as well as promoting the African diaspora and an inclusive society for all.
Minister Teeluck indicated that the ISM offers a platform for the population to explore, study, and transmit the histories of slavery and the slave trade and indentured labour in the Indian Ocean region. Mauritius, he added, is one among the few countries to have a museum comprising a catalogue of artefacts and documents related to slavery.
He also commended the ISM for realising several projects that are geared towards preserving the history and culture of Mauritius, organising regular exhibitions, and promoting curricular development and scientific research in the field of arts and culture.
