REUNION GETTING INTO GEAR FOR 5TH EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL ‘LIBERTE METISSE’
(Posted 18th December 2014)
The abolition of slavery is at the very centre of Reunion’s arguably biggest festival of the year, which is going to be celebrated from tomorrow until Sunday at Etang Sale les Bains.
Launched in 2010 by this French region, located far from the French mainland in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius, has the festival quickly become a showcase event for Reunion. It is paying tribute not only to those who fought to abolish the human trade but also celebrates the resulting blend of culture on the island where the influence of the Creole people is visible everywhere. Art, fashion, song, poetry and food, not to forget the unifying language which is spoken across several of the Vanilla Islands, a tourism marketing cooperative now embracing 7 Indian Ocean islands, is what makes Reunion so unique. French organization and infrastructure combines with the unique mix of Creole input into the island’s society, providing visitors with an experience which is rare to find elsewhere.
The Festival Liberte Metisse is on the Vanilla Islands annual calendar of events and is perfectly placed ahead of the festive season holidays when many tourists from Europe flee the winter cold and seek warmer climes. Those coming to Reunion a few days before Christmas will be able to witness the enthusiasm of the Reunion people when celebrating their freedom on and island where integration has trumped coexistence.
For more details about this festival and Destination Reunion click on www.reunion.fr
