UNIT 2 FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS WEBQUEST PRESENTATION

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM PRESENTED BY Simporé Assane Lamine kouassi Kablan Akoua Giselle Kamagate Amara Topan Bere Sika Alice

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM • INTRODUCTION • HISTORICAL CONTEXT • REASONS OF THE MARCH • ORGANIZATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION • REACTION OF THE COLONIAL POWER • OUR OWN REACTION TO THE SITUATION • THE WOMAN LEADER WHO IMPRESSED US THE MOST • CONCLUSION

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM INTRODUCTION In the 1800 s Africa had been under the influence of the colonial powers. Côte d’Ivoire in particular became a French colony in 1893. After the second world War, the wind of freedom started to blow throughout Africa and Côte d’Ivoire also became a point of tensions between the population and the colonial power. In this struggle for independence, some famous people came out: Felix Houphouet Boigny, Bernard Dadié, Jean Baptiste Mockey, Auguste Denise, Phillipe Yacé and many others. However some women also deciced to play their part. Who were these women? What did they do exactly for the freedom of Côte d'Ivoire?

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM HISTORICAL CONTEXT Ø 1946: creation of the PDCI by FELIX HOUPHOUET BOIGNY and some of his friends. This party succeeded in Øabolishing the “forced labor” which appeared as a humiliation for the French authorities. This led to ØHarassment of the party members: ØMass arrests, beatings, imprisonments and even assassinations.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM REASONS OF THE MARCH §Following the "riots of February 6, 1949", 30 activists of the RDA are arrested including eight leaders, members of the steering committee. They are Philipe Vieyra, Sery Kore, Albert Paraiso, Lamad Kamara, Jacob Williams, J. B. Mockey, Bernard Dadie, Matthieu Ekra. §the prisoners suffered some precarious conditions §some were hospitalized because of health problems related to the hunger strike.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM Prisoners in the prison yard (1949 or 1950) standing position from right to left : Lamad Camara ; Paraiso Albert ; Séry Koré ; Vieyra Philippe. crouched position from right to left: Mathieu Ekra ; Bernard Dadié ; Jean-Baptiste Mockey ; Jacob Williams.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM Some of these famous prisoners Matthieu Ekra Williams Jacob Jean B. Mockey Bernard B. Dadié

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM ORGANIZATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION BEFORE THE MARCH wrote letters to the authorities. on December 15, they triggered a general boycott of imported products THE MARCH OF PROTEST 22 December: Women got on vehicles to reach Grand Bassam dressed in the colors of France, waving tricolor flags They decided to walk the rest of the way through the beach or the coconut groves to avoid policemen plying the road, other women came to swell the ranks 23 December: Following repeated refusals from the prosecutor to receive their delegation, they decided to go directly to the prison the next day to make their voices heard

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM They split into small groups to seek to join the prison guarded by local authorities. They divided into several groups to maximize their luck, some along the sea, and others in canoes. Those of Imperial were divided into several groups to facilitate their movement. 24 December:

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM THE REACTION OF THE COLONIAL POWER restriction of women's mobility. The drivers were ordered not to carry them anymore. Various roadblocks were set up by the police to separate the activists, making access to the prison difficult. use of tear gas as well as water pumps drawn directly from the lagoon and charged with sand Threat to shoot the protesters. Many women were wounded, others were knocked down in the muddy ditches filled with detritus More than forty women were wounded including Séry Marie Koré herself who was severely injured. Many others were arrested.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM OUR OWN REACTION TO THE SITUATION ØBoycott of French products and services ØGo by small groups in Grand Bassam three days before the day of the march , hiding and waiting for all the other women there ØUse force at the risk of our lives, attacking the colonial powers and invading the prison to free the prisoners

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM THE WOMAN LEADER WHO IMPRESSED US THE MOST SERY MARIE KORE really determined and courageous she was not afraid of anything and had to go to the end. She was the one who motivated discouraged women during the walk. What impressed us most is the fact that she was carrying her baby on her back during the march, she was attacked, assaulted, beaten but she continued the battle. She did not retreat.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND- BASSAM CONCLUSION For further reading, photograph of the prisoners extracted from « Carnet de prison » by Bernard Dadié.

UNIT 2 : FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS • WEBQUEST PRESENTATION THE MARCH OF THE WOMEN IN GRAND BASSAM THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE OR ANY QUESTIONS TO ASK, WE ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL.