MAHE, Seychelles – A momentous unveiling took place at La Poudriere Lane on Tuesday, as Seychelles commemorated 267 years since the French laid claim to the archipelago with a replica of the Stone of Possession.
According to Seychelles News Agency, President Wavel Ramkalawan together with the Council and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) revealed the artwork created by local artist James August, marking the spot where Captain Nicolas Morphey originally placed a boulder, signifying French colonial claim over the islands.
The original Stone of Possession, a squared granite stone, is distinguished by the Coat of Arms of France and the inscription ‘Iles de Sechelles’, along with the Fleur de Lys, indicating France’s preemptive occupation.
During the ceremony, David Andre, the secretary general of the Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, addressed the significance of the replica, noting its role in connecting the current generation with its history and the legacy left by the country’s ancestors.
Andre emphasized the importance of such monuments in fostering a sense of continuity and understanding of Seychelles’ historical journey and its developmental strides.
He recounted the narrative of the Stone, highlighting it as the first human-made edifice on the Seychelles Islands, which prefaced the eventual establishment of settlements on the islands of Mahe and Ste Anne 15 years later.
The tale of the original Stone’s journey to the present was also shared, tracing back to its discovery in 1894 by Henry Le Frey, who sent it to the Musée de Paris, unaware of its significance. The intervention of the Police Commissioner at the time ensured its return. Today, the Stone is housed in the National Museum of History, a testament to Seychelles’ storied past.