The Institute Français Ghana and Alliance Français Accra is set to hold a colloquium; “Ghana In the Diasporas: Historic Linkages Between French Antilles and Ghana”, on Thursday, November 8 at the Alliance Français.
Speaking on GBC’s Uniiq FM Breakfast Show, the Event Coordinator for the “Ghana in The Diaspora Colloquium”, Mrs. Jamilla Hamidu said the objective of the colloquium is to bridge the historical gaps between Ghana and the French Caribbean Islands known as “The French Antilles”. She explained that, the French Antilles composes of the seven territories such as French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin etc. which are currently under the French sovereignty in the Antilles Islands of Caribbean.
“The gap is that, for a very long time, Ghana has always had a links with the Anglophone, Caribbean and the African American Diaspora. They tend to come to Ghana as a form of heritage tourism and also pride their links with a homeland, which is Ghana, as a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade,” she explained.
She added that the narrative of the French Antilles is not common within the Ghanaian discourse of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The Colloquium therefore, seeks to bring to the fore the narrative of the French Antilles to the general public especially to the University Students and also to commemorate the 400 years of the commencement and documented form of the Atlantic Slave Trade which started in 1619 – 2019.
“Next year will be 400 years of documented enslavement of the people of African descent,” she disclosed.
Mrs. Jamiila also added that the colloquium will engage with mainly people from the academic field, people from the civil society, Ministry of Tourism etc. Also, specialists such as Dr. Dominique Rogers of the University of French Antilles, Dr. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tua from the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Pap Ndiaye – Sciences Po Paris, France, Dr. Kangni ALEM, University de lome, Togo will be present to explain and discuss the notion of the Diaspora between Ghana and the French Antilles and the linkages between France and the West African Slave Routes.
“The French Antilles aspect has never been mentioned. This is an opportunity for participant to learn and contribute to this discourse and find out about what the French Antilles is about and its history. To look at the linkages between Ghana and the French Antilles,” she concluded.
Story by: Mavis Arthur
