Table Of ContentFrench Caribbeans in Africa
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French Caribbeans in Africa
Diasporic Connections and
Colonial Administration, 1880–1 939
Véronique Hélénon
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french caribbeans in africa
Copyright © Véronique Hélénon, 2011.
All rights reserved.
First published in 2011 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the
United States— a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue,
New York, NY 10010.
Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the
world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers
Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills,
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies
and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN: 978- 0- 230- 10544- 7
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data.
Hélénon, Véronique.
French Caribbeans in Africa : diasporic connections and colonial
administration, 1880–1939 / Véronique Hélénon.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-230-10544-7
1. France–Colonies–Africa–Administration–History. 2. France–Colonies–
Africa–History. 3. West Indians–Africa–History. I. Title.
DT33.5.H45 2010
966'.00405410960729—dc22 2010021789
A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.
Design by Scribe Inc.
First edition: April 2011
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America.
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Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction: Colonial Diaspora: The French Caribbean
and the Colonial Administration in Africa, 1880– 1939 1
1 From the Sugar Plantation to the Colonial Administration 17
2 The Dimensions of Caribbean Assimilationism 49
3 The Colonial Administrative Machinery 77
4 The Logics of the Colonial Administration 97
Conclusion 121
Appendix: List of Colonial Administrators from Martinique,
Guadeloupe, and Guyane Appointed to Africa between
1880 and 1939 127
Notes 147
Bibliography 179
Index 201
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Acknowledgments
The idea for this work originated in a conversation several years ago. One
of my friends was wondering about the life of his grandfather who had
spent many years in the military in Africa. According to family legend,
this grandfather had had a child there, maybe several children. He had
subsequently married a young woman from Guadeloupe, with whom he
had raised a family, and in the course of time his life in Africa had faded
into oblivion. However, two generations later, his grandson was asking the
questions his grandfather did not answer. I was unable to find this Gua-
deloupean soldier who had never been involved in the cadres of the civil
administration, but I did find two members of his family. While I was
doing my research, many other shadowy figures from the past reappeared.
I myself had often heard in my own family snatches of conversation about
the lives of relatives, on both my mother’s and father’s sides, who had lived
in Africa. The preparation of this work led me from the Antilles to Europe,
Africa, and the United States over the course of many years during which a
number of people helped me immeasurably.
In France, at a time when studies about black people and the African Dias-
pora were few and far between, I was lucky enough to be able to work under
the direction of Elikia Mbokolo, one of the rare thesis advisors then ready to
undertake the supervising of such endeavors. At the Center d’Etudes Afric-
aines of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, nothing would
have been possible without the unconditional support of Michel Aghassian,
whose kindness, availability, and erudition were always generously given to
me. I especially want to thank Stéphanie Mulot, Fabio Viti, Carlo Célius,
Maurice Guimendégo, and Dieudonné Gnammankou for our lively and
rich discussions, as well as Max Wallot who only today has joined the ghosts
of the past. At Aix-e n-P rovence, Claude Lasnel and Jean-C laude Yoka have
allowed me to work under the best conditions. My encounter with François
Manchuelle proved to be essential in the pursuit of my work. His pioneering
work and the conversations I was able to have with him opened new per-
spectives on reading the history of the French Antilles. It was this meeting as
well that determined some of the parameters of my departure for the United
States, the same year his plane crashed on American shores.
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viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In Martinique, Lucien- René Abenon especially was always a sensitive
and present questioner. Alice Nardal, sister of Paulette and Jeanne, brought
to life many family stories for me and we spent long afternoons reminisc-
ing about the past. I remember with great emotion our recollections of the
past when she introduced me to the world of her youth. Roland Suvélor
also brought to life for me the Antilles of the younger years. He show-
ered me with precious advice, friendship, and laughter. Their passing is an
unimaginable loss for the knowledge of our history. In Guadeloupe, Dany
Ducosson and Daniel Maragnès were precious sources of information, and
Georges Sylvestre opened many doors for me.
At New York University, months spent in the Africana Studies Pro-
gram, then directed by Manthia Diawara, were vital. Manthia projected
an incomparable dynamism, and I am most grateful for his support. It is
impossible adequately to express my gratitude to Robin Kelley. Besides his
unfailing, his deep humanism, and his immense network of acquaintances,
Robin is certainly a peerless academic, and our long and frequent conversa-
tions have decisively influenced the direction of my work. The preparation
of this book was also nourished by Ramon Grosfoguel, whose erudition
and kindness are unequaled. Ramon made it possible for me to understand
the French Antilles through a new prism. I can only express my gratitude
for his patience and the long hours he devoted to guiding my work. I am
equally indebted to Tyler Stovall, whose generosity never failed. His contri-
bution to the history of blacks in France is inestimable. Maryse Condé and
Richard Philcox were also a major support, while Winston James always
lent an attentive and critical ear.
In Boston, Sandrine Sheon, Elijah Wald, Reebee Garofalo, and Debbie
Pacini Hernandez offered priceless support. John Fobanjong was a first-
class friend and colleague. I was also blessed by the friendship of Allison
Blakeley, which allowed me to expand the definitions of the diaspora in
Europe. In Miami, I want to thank Alexandra Cornelius- Diallo, Aurora
Morcillo, Felice Lifshitz, and Joe Patrouch. Carolle Boyce-D avies and Baba-
car Mbow have always kept their doors open and given generously of their
time. I also want to thank Carolle Charles, Sheila Walker, Sylvie Kandé,
Kenneth Brown, Samba Diop, as well as Bernadette and Philippe Rossignol;
Fred Constant whose enthusiastic arguments were always stimulating; and
finally Jane Blanshard, without whom my text would be pretty unreadable.
The support I have received goes far beyond the purely academic and
has been offered in many ways. I want especially to pay homage to André
Szwarcbart and simply say that he changed my vision of the world. Friends
and members of my family at different points in time have had the patience
to follow my work. My thoughts go especially to Mame, Henrie, Marie-
Rose, Antoine, Josette, Camille, Olivier, Youri, Steeve, Dominique, René,
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
Jenny, Muriel Wiltord, Vincent, Catherine, Alice, Pia, Lise, Valérie Durica,
Gaelle and Dany Brown, Muriel Marie-A ppoline, Huberte Boukoulou-
Marcelin, and Gustav Michaux- Vignes. A special word for my parents,
Jeanne Wiltord and René Hélénon, to whom this book is in part dedicated.
And finally a loving thought for my treasure, Salomé, whose presence lights
up my days.
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