France: end of consultations on the creation of a House against slavery in Bordeaux

Karfa Diallo, founder and director of Mémoires et Partages, stands next to the statue created by Haitian sculptor Caymitte Woodly, known as Filipo, representing Modeste Testas, a slave bought by two Bordeaux brothers in the 18th century, on September 13, 2021. © PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

On Friday, April 28, 2023, the consultation on the house of slavery in Bordeaux ended. His objective was to gather the opinion of the inhabitants of this city, which owes its wealth to the slave trade. The port of Bordeaux was the third most important in France for triangular trade from the 17th to the 19th century. Today, the will is to repair and reconcile with history.

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In one year, about forty personalities have been heard, from former footballer Lilian Thuram to local guide Yves Simone. A dozen workshops brought together the people of Bordeaux who reflected on what they expected, not from this museum, but from this House of Slavery and Resistance.

Karfa Diallo is the founder and director of Mémoires et partages. He has the books of grievances that the public can still sign for a week: "There are the auditions. There are citizen consultations, but there are also six grievance books. We asked six questions to the people who worked with us in the consultation workshops: Why slavery in the plural and not in the singular? Why a house against slavery and not a museum against slavery? What do you expect to find in such a place dedicated to the memories of slavery and freedom struggles? ».

These notebooks will be handed over on May 12 to the mayor of Bordeaux the day after the day commemorating the abolition of slavery. The House of Slavery and Resistance could open at the very end of 2025. The project is estimated at €4.7 million.

► Read also: In Reunion, the Fet' Kaf to commemorate the abolition of slavery and celebrate the culture of the island

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• France
• Slavery