On the occasion of and as part of the 110thth To mark the anniversary of Aimé Césaire’s birth, SAMAC, the airport company bearing his name, has just kicked off a series of cultural events—running through June 26 (Césaire’s birthday)—in tribute to the illustrious Martinican poet and politician. We attended the opening night of the event.
As a reminder, it was in January 2007 that a ministerial decree officially confirmed the airport’s current name. And during that opening night—highlighted in particular by the ballet’s whirling performances Pom’Kanel and captivating readings by the’Martinique Images Association (AMI) – The Chairman of the SAMAC Executive Board, Frantz Thodiard, emphasized that this month of tribute was «well-deserved for the man who left his mark on our history, who spearheaded the modernization of our country, and who helped bring recognition to Martinican culture and heritage around the world.» « He added, regarding the airport facility: »Bearing the name of Aimé Césaire means committing to continuing his work, and that is a responsibility we have—one that I personally wish to fulfill to the very end—because we have a duty to promote our country beyond our borders. ’ A leader who, on this last point, expressed his regret that the’Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport is still not «connected» to the African continent («We’ve worked hard on this issue, and I haven’t given up hope that one day we’ll have a connection to Africa,» Frantz Thodiard remarked). This official also was quick to link the current efforts to modernize and expand the airport’s infrastructure to «our commitment to excellence.».
Mike Irasque
Schedule for this ‘Césaire Month’:
Wednesday, June 14: «When Aimé Césaire’s Words Meet the Clay Mawon’s Gesture» (Men of Clay) 5:30 p.m. – Location: inside the airport.
Thursday, June 15: Discover the Man (Screening of documentaries about Aimé Césaire – Ciné Woulé Association) 7:00 p.m. – Location: Parking Lot P1.
Friday, June 16: Back to the Roots (Tanbou Bô Kannal) 3:30 p.m. – Location: Place des Aviateurs.
Wednesday, June 21: The Next Generation of Talent (Mylène Duclos and her students) 3:30 p.m. – Location: inside the airport.
Thursday, June 22: Recitation of Texts by Aimé Césaire (AMI—Association Martinique Images) 3:30 p.m. – Location: inside the airport.
Friday, June 23: Martinique, a land of inspiration (Ballet Pom’Kanel, accompanied by Jocelyn Régina) 3:30 p.m. – Location: inside the airport.
Monday, June 26: Slam poetry gives voice to Aimé Césaire (Slam poets Mapie and Yawa, accompanied by flutist Elise) 3:30 p.m. – Location: inside the airport.
