Kan Villèle
The Association Kan Villèle, named after the former slave camp situated on the estate of Madame Desbassayns, was created in September 1993 by young people from the surrounding neighbourhood, with the aim of organising cultural and sports activities and promoting local heritage. Through these activities and beyond, the aim was to give birth to ideas around the evolution of the neighbourhood, its future prospects and the social integration of its young people.
Since it was created, Kan Villèle has made a point of appropriately celebrating the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, both in the village and on the site of the former estate of the Desbassayns family. To this aim, the association organises various cultural events, as well as exhibitions around the history of the neighbourhood, with a different theme each year: habitat, genealogy, conditions of work, water, indentured labour etc.
In 2018, Kan Villèle celebrated its 25 years of volunteer work, at the same time as the 170th anniversary of slavery. More than ever, we consider that December 20th is an important date for the population of Reunion and that Villèle, with its many traces of slavery and indentured labour, is a highly symbolic place for the celebration of freedom.
The Kan Villèle association regularly contributes pedagogical activity to the museum around the topic of slavery. Each year, the association plays an active part in various cultural events such as European heritage days and the December 20th celebrations.
Address : Musée historique de Villèle
Domaine PANON-DESBASSAYNS
97435 SAINT-GILLES-LES-HAUTS
Telephone : 0262.55.64.10
Email : kanvillele974@gmail.com