Death of Déwé Gorodey, figure of literature and independence in New Caledonia

Déwé Gorodey, the first Kanak novelist and pioneer in the struggle for New Caledonia’s independence, died on Sunday at the age of 73, the government announced, prompting unanimous tribute from the cultural and political world of the archipelago. .

Suffering for many years from cancer, Déwé Gorodey died in hospital in Poindimié, on the east coast, the government said.

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The Caledonian collegiate government paid tribute to a “separatist politician and Kanak writer of international renown, who marked the lifeof the local executive, of which she was a member for 20 years from 1999 to 2019, in particular in charge of culture, the status of women and citizenship.

The FLNKS, historic coalition of the Kanak struggle, hailed “a great lady of heart and mind“, who “has always fought for the freedom of his people and the full sovereignty of his country“, while the deputy Philippe Dunoyer (Renaissance) regretted the death “of a woman of spirit, a strong woman with tireless commitment“.

“The action is vast, multiple, but let’s remember what was his heart battle, the defense of Kanak culture and identity.“, for her part reacted in a press release the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak. The minister hailed the memory of a “proud and generous woman to whom to pay tribute today is a duty and an honor“.

Kanak independence activist

Born in 1949 in Ponérihouen, in the north-east of New Caledonia, Déwé Gorodey studied literature between 1969 and 1973 in Montpellier, where she opened up to both writing and politics, immersing herself protest and liberation ideas of May 68.

As soon as she returned to her native island, she became involved in the first Kanak independence movements and participated in militant actions, which earned her several stays in prison. She was a member of the Palika (Kanak Liberation Party), one of the two main components of the FLNKS.

It was behind bars that she composed her first collection of poetry entitled Under the ashes of the conchesmilitant work and hymn to its Oceanian culture.

Déwé Gorodey is also the author of several collections of short stories, aphorisms and a play. In 2005, this feminist activist published The pavementthe first Kanak novel ever published, which breaks the taboo of sexual abuse and violence against women.

“Déwé Gorodey leaves us a remarkable literary work. In 2008, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature, associated him with illustrious French, overseas or international authors who accompanied him on his writing journey.“recalled Gilbert Bladinières, its publisher in New Caledonia.

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The New Caledonian cultural world hailed the legacy of its action within the government, citing in particular the creation of the Maison du livre, the Academy of Kanak languages, the International Oceanian Book Fair (Silo), or even the Export Center of the music and dance (Poemar).