The CNDRS 40th anniversary

From left to right: UNESCO advisor, ministers of education and culture, and CNDRS director

To celebrate its 40^th anniversary, the national center for documentation and scientific research known as CNDRS in French, organized an international colloquium from 19 to 21 November 2019 at the conference hall of Retaj hotel in Moroni. The opening ceremony was honored by Azali Assoumani, the president of the Union of Comoros. Cultural heritage and scientific research as a fine vehicle for the economic emergence in Comoros was the topic to be discussed and enriched during two days by international, regional and national scholars.

The first day of the conference was focused on two themes: ‘‘how to cooperate in order to safeguard and enrich our national heritage’’ and ‘‘challenges and prospects in scientific research’’. Each researcher had to give a 10 minutes presentation. The first presentation about the social, cultural and historic links between Madagascar and the Comoros was given by professor RAFOLO Andrianaivoarivony from the State University of Antananarivo. He took the opportunity to correct people who think that Madagascar is an island. “Madagascar is an archipelago composed of many islands and isles,” he said.

ELHADJI Mohamed is a teacher researcher and former director at the Technical Institute from the University of Comoros.  His theme was focused on the Comorian diaspora of Madagascar who settled in Comoros after the massacre of Comorians in the city of Mahajanga in 1976. They were nicknamed ‘‘Sabena’’ because they took the Belgian aircraft Sabena airways to come back home after the sad event. Once in Comoros, they have set up their own businesses in order to survive.

Mohamed Othman works at CNDRS. He is the head of the Arabic and Islamic Civilization Department, but his speech was in Comorian language. He talked about the peaceful relationships between East Africa and the sultanate of Oman. “Anjouan Island was a business hub which exported many agricultural products to the East India,” he said.  He emphasizes on the marriage links between noble Comorians and Arabs. “The sweet cake called halwa, the Arabic coffee, the turban of the sultan with the djembe, to name but a few, are some examples of the Arabic influence and heritage in the Comorian society’’ he said. He also reminded the audience that Djumbe Fatima, the female sultan of Moheli, was married to an Arab of Oman called Said Muhammad Nasser Makadara and that the Frenches came in Comoros for the first time in the middle of the 19^th century to colonize the four islands.

Karalyn Monteil is the UNESCO Culture Unit advisor for East Africa. She focused on UNESCO culture conventions that may be tools for sustainable development. She also recalled the UNESCO conventions of 1954, 1964 and 1999 which prohibit the import and export of cultural property in the event of conflict.  She said that the Comoros have signed the 2003 convention on the safeguarding of the cultural and immaterial heritage, the 2005 convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, but did not sign the 2001 convention on underwater cultural protection. The last convention concerns wrecks at sea.

Dr. Ouled, former Dean, teacher and researcher at the University of Comoros, chaired the question/answers session and summarized the dozen interventions of the day.  

Cultural heritage, community and economic emergence were the topic discussed on Wednesday 20^th during the whole day.  Mohamed Mboreha Selemane is a national expert and heritage manager. His presentation was about conservation issues and prospects for enhancing military architecture in Ngazidja. He is a little bit disappointed that he has not had any questions.

Raafatil-KALBI is the chief of Archives at CNDRS in Anjouan. Her subject was about challenges and prospects of archives for development.  She was complaining of archiving problems in her department. However, she admits having the help of her colleagues of the museum of Mayotte. 

 Comorian craftsmanship exhibited at CNDRS

Chami presentation was about languages and development in Comoros. He said that the national language (shikomori) consists of four dialects and each island has its own dialect. In addition, Mayotte has a second dialect which is called shibushi close to the languages spoken in Madagascar.  “Many African scholars think that there is no real development without the development of our own African languages,” he said. He also gave the examples of the Arabic language under the reign of Muhammad Ali in Egypt in the 19^th century and the Turkish language under the presidency of Mustapha Kemal in the 20^th century. He concluded that Arabic and Turkish have become major languages thanks to their political leaders.

Rahamatou Goulam is the director of the National Center of Crafts in Comoros. Her contribution was focused on the role and place of Crafts for the emergence of the country.  Aboubacar Said Salim closed the 2-day session of the symposium on behalf of the CNDRS director and waited for everyone’s contributions and proposals to make the Comoros an emerging country by 2030. The closing ceremony of the 40 years of the CNDRS took place on Thursday, November 21 under the high patronage of the ministers of culture and education. It was followed by traditional dances, public speaking (shiduantsi) and a free visit of the CNDRS museum.  

Chami Mouzawar

Contributing writer