Wreath-Laying Ceremonies on the occasion of the commemorations of the 191st Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery

A series of wreath-laying ceremonies were held to commemorate the 191st Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. These ceremonies provided solemn moments of remembrance in honour of the enslaved men and women whose suffering and resistance form a significant chapter of Mauritian history.

The commemorations began at the Bassin des Esclaves Pamplemousses, a site associated with the painful history of the slave trade on the island. Historical records indicate that enslaved people were brought to this location to be washed before being presented and sold, a dehumanising practice of that period.

Another wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Fort Frederik Hendrik, where tribute was paid to Anna de Bengale, whose story remains closely linked to the history of slavery in Mauritius and continues to be remembered as part of the island’s collective heritage.

The ceremonies concluded at the monument at Pointe Canon Mahabourg, a site that commemorates the struggle of enslaved people for freedom and symbolises the moment when they broke free from the chains of oppression.