The Centre d'Innovation et de Recherche pour le Développement (CIRD) in Guinea recently hosted Jean-Luc Martinez, French Ambassador for International Cooperation in the Field of Heritage. The meeting focused on the process of returning belongings linked to Almamy Samory Touré and human remains of Almamy Bokar Biro Barry and his companions to Guinea. Discussions centered on historical and scientific research supporting Guinea's requests for restitution.
The CIRD presented its activities, including the National Program for the Census, Documentation, and Digitization of Cultural Heritage. The institution also shared updates on the work of two scientific committees established for the cases of Samory Touré and Bokar Biro Barry. According to Dr. Safiatou Diallo, President of CIRD's Board of Directors, the visit facilitated an exchange between researchers, students, and actors involved in the restitution process.
Dr. Safiatou Diallo highlighted the significance of collaboration between Guinean researchers and French authorities. She detailed the work of scientific committees, including tracing the history of Samory Touré's belongings and researching the remains of Bokar Biro Barry and his companions. The committees comprise researchers, historians, jurists, and anthropologists working together to reconstruct the itineraries of these historical cases.
Ambassador Jean-Luc Martinez emphasized the importance of scientific research in processing Guinea's requests for restitution. He expressed his enthusiasm for discovering the CIRD and its research initiatives. Martinez noted that the process involves revisiting a painful past, specifically the arrest of Samory Touré 128 years ago, and constructing a shared history between Guineans and French.
The meeting also provided a platform for students from the Master's program in Heritage Management and Conservation (GESCOP) and history Ph.D. students to present their research. Aboubacar Sidiki Condé, representing the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Handicrafts, welcomed the progress in the restitution process. He noted that the projects align with the vision of the Guinean President and the efforts of Minister Moussa Moïse Sylla.
Beyond restitution cases, students are working on various issues related to the conservation and valorization of Guinean heritage. Aboubacar Sidiki Condé, Director of National Culture and Historical Heritage, discussed his work on the N'dimba, a cultural tradition of the Baga communities. He highlighted the potential for valorizing this tradition to strengthen national cohesion and create employment opportunities.
Dr. Fodé Bangaly Keïta, a researcher, noted that the meeting takes place in a context where the return of human remains and belongings linked to Guinean resistance figures has sparked significant scientific work. The discussions reflect a broader effort to address historical injustices and promote cultural cooperation between Guinea and France.
Key points
- The Guinean government has requested the restitution of Samory Touré's belongings and Bokar Biro Barry's remains from France.
- The Centre d'Innovation et de Recherche pour le Développement (CIRD) is playing a key role in facilitating research and collaboration on the restitution cases.
- The process involves historical and scientific research to support Guinea's requests for restitution.
