Stories about Martinique
Martinique, French Guiana: Murder & Politics
Martinican blogger Bel Balawou posts [Fr] an homage to the late policeman (from French Guiana) who was killed in the line of duty by an ETA Basque terrorist in the suburbs of Paris, last week. This murder happened between the two rounds of the French regional elections, causing more political...
French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique: March 19th 1946
Guadeloupean blogger Anba pyé mango-la wonders [Fr] about the situation of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion, former colonies which became the four overseas departments of the French Republic, sixty-four years ago.
Guadeloupe, Martinique: From dry season to drought
As some posts on GV have shown recently [Eng], the Caribbean has been going through a severe drought for the past few weeks. In the French West Indies, bloggers react to this natural disaster which influences their everyday life and affects even politics.
Haiti: “Solidarité Haïti”
After a few days of silence, the collective blog Solidarité Haïti, born after the 2008 hurricanes, has eventually posted [Fr] about a dozen solidarity and relief efforts led by French Caribbean people in Europe or elsewhere.
Martinique, French Guiana: “No” To More Autonomy
The referendum which took place on Sunday, January 10th 2010, in the French Overseas Regions of Martinique and French Guiana to vote for either more autonomy from France or to keep the same status, was along awaited and its results have left bloggers with mixed feelings. The following is a roundup of some Martinican blogs and their insight on what took place.
Martinique, French Guiana: Referendum for more autonomy from France
Bloggers from Martinique [Fr] and French Guiana have been posting for months about the upcoming popular referendum to decide whether they want to change their political status and gain more autonomy from France [Fr], or keep the same status. Answer on Sunday, January 10th 2010 [Fr].
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
World AIDS Day: Fighting Discrimination Around the World
Millions around the world came together on Tuesday to show support for those living with HIV/AIDS. Online, in blogs and in forums, many assessed the progress made and the distance left to travel in the fight against discrimination and the spread of the disease. Here's a collection of text, images and video from those writing and speaking in French.
Caribbean: French Literary Prizes
This week, two of the most prestigious French literary prizes were awarded to two French-speaking authors of African descent: The French-speaking Caribbean blogosphere has been buzzing over this double satisfaction, in this post from Haiti, this one from Guadeloupe and this one from Martinique [Fr].
French Caribbean: “La Toussaint”
In the French-speaking Caribbean, celebrating "La Toussaint", All Saints' and All Souls' Days, are as much an opportunity for family reunions as the Christmas season is. Here is a review of what the blogosphere says about it this year...
Martinique: Free your mind, free your hair
Blogger Imaniyé from Martinique reports the creation of a Facebook group [Fr] by people who are eager to defend the rights of Martinicans to comb their hair as they want and above all to twist it into dreadlocks, without being discriminated against.
Guadeloupe, Martinique: Soccer & Religion
A video showing an interview of the famous French soccer player Thierry Henry in which he expresses his affiliation to Islam, has caught the attention of Martinican blogger Bondamanjak [Fr/Fr Cr] and triggered impassioned comments from readers.
Martinique: Debating over the statutory change
Martinican MontrayKreyol discusses the popular debates [Fr] over the change of institutional status of Martinique as a French overseas department.
Global: International Creole Month
October has become the month of the worldwide celebration of Creole language and the Creole blogosphere is paying attention.
Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Maarten, French Guiana: Autonomy?
Repeating Islands notes that the French Overseas Territories “are to vote on more autonomy in January 2010.”
Martinique: Gas Station Assault
Repeating Islands republishes writer Raphaël Confiant's account of his experience of “physical aggression at a service station in Martinique.”
Martinique: Dance the Bèlè
Repeating Islands features Leïla Bizet and her bèlè, “a traditional folk dance practiced on islands like Dominica, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, and Martinique; hailing from the days of slavery, it has become a time-honored symbol of African legacy.”
French Caribbean: Farewell Mickael
The news of the death of the King of Pop was like an earthquake felt around the world. The shock wave reached the French Caribbean, where bloggers from Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, all pay homage to the late artist.
Martinique, Guadeloupe: Sarkozy Visit
Repeating Islands notes that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to make a trip to Martinique and Guadeloupe later this week “to address overseas ‘issues’ after the general strikes” that took place in the French Overseas Territories earlier this year.
Caribbean: Following the path of the Caribs
Since the beginning of 2009, French West Indians have questioned their identity, their national heritage and their present-day situation in different ways. Kintamingo Ema, a Martinican blog, presents an initiative which mixes a social insertion, historical and archeological project with an identity quest. Dubbed "Kintamingo Ema, sur le chemin de nos ancêtres" (Kintamingo Ema, following the path of our ancestors), the project was launched by Association Karisko , an association focusing on social integration.
Martinique, Guadeloupe: Emancipation Celebrations
The French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe will soon be commemorating the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, according to Repeating Islands.
