Exhibition highlights story of slave Pompée |28 May 2016

Arts and history lovers yearning to learn more about the story of Pompée the slave can do so through an exhibition being held at the National Cultural Centre in Victoria.

The exhibition entitled ‘The Pompée story 1810’ was officially opened on Tuesday by artist Egbert Marday.

The opening ceremony which coincided with FetAfrik 2016 was attended by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, the Minister for Fisheries & Agriculture Wallace Cosgrow, principal secretary for culture Benjamine Rose, among other guests.

‘The Pompée story 1810’ exhibition is also aimed at promoting  our vibrant history, and also giving tourists and residents the chance to learn more about important aspects of our history.

Pompée was a slave who was burned alive by the Seychelles authorities on August 15, 1910. He was born in Mozambique around 1780, described as a noir de pioche (field Negro).

On August 21, 1809, he assassinated Pierre Michel Hinard overseer. In court Pompée testified that he assassinated Hinard because he used to beat him, and that he did not like to be commanded by a white man.

Pompée was burned alive near the Moosa River and this cruel and unusual punishment was signed by Queau de Quinssy as having taken place on August 15, 1810, the date of Saint Napoleon.

Mr Marday, who also mounted the exhibition, stated that such wonderful story should be revived by keeping a piece of our history alive.

“I have done many researches on Pompée for the occasion of FetAfrik, and I have been approached so many times to sell art work depicting this aspect of our history. Those wonderful pieces of art are part of the history of Seychelles, and should be kept alive in a museum. Pompée was not only a slave, I see him as being a special person, a person who was courageous and fought a system that was ruthless. By murdering his boss, in court Pompée took all the responsibility and acted like a true leader,” he said.

During the opening ceremony, Seychellois historian Tony Mathiot gave more details about Pompée, how he fought the system, and how he had a very hard life.

Minister St Ange pointed out that the Pompée story is for every Seychellois.

“With such exhibition showcasing the life of the slave Pompée, now the story becomes alive for all Seychellois to understand the true story of the slave Pompée who fought a system that was barbaric. We need to learn from that past so that we can appreciate the future,” he said.

Minister St Ange also pointed out that they are trying to find a place so that such wonderful art can be placed and where students, locals and tourists can have the chance to appreciate the history of Seychelles.