Memory Advocate in Action: Scribe Actively Reviving Past Events
The BUMIDOM (Bureau for the Development of Migration in the Overseas Departments), a French government labour recruitment agency established in the 1960s, played a significant role in shaping the demographic and social landscapes of France and the French Caribbean. Over a period of 19 years, the agency facilitated the migration of approximately 160,000 Martinicans and Guadeloupeans to France, addressing labour shortages in the metropolitan country while promoting economic development in the overseas territories [1].
However, the cultural legacy of BUMIDOM is complex. While it offered opportunities for migration and employment, the program was marred by challenges such as discrimination, marginalization, and the interruption of cultural continuity for migrants and their descendants in France. The experiences of BUMIDOM migrants have become an important area of memory and identity, particularly in the French Caribbean and among Caribbean diaspora communities in France. The legacy reflects ongoing struggles over recognition, belonging, and the impact of colonial histories on contemporary social relations [1][5].
Creative works have played a vital role in preserving and commemorating BUMIDOM’s legacy. Literature, film, and other cultural productions have been instrumental in articulating the migrant experience and its emotional and social complexities. Scholars and artists have elevated the voices of BUMIDOM migrants through "postmemory" — the transmission of memories from one generation to another via storytelling, literature, and artistic expression [1][3].
Antonia Wimbush, a Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Melbourne, delves into this cultural legacy in her book, BUMIDOM (1963-1982) and its Afterlives. The book argues that creative works can serve as a memorial function for marginalized communities [6]. Wimbush's study examines works produced during the BUMIDOM's operation and contemporary works, including Francois Ega's Lettres à une noire and Charlise Curier's Mon aventure avec le BUMIDOM [7].
Moreover, contemporary institutions and artists continue to reference BUMIDOM to highlight cultural intersections between France and its overseas territories. For example, high-profile cultural events and exhibitions sometimes draw on themes related to this history to foster understanding and remembrance, signaling its ongoing relevance in the French cultural imagination [2].
Recent commemorative activities for the BUMIDOM's sixtieth anniversary have increased, such as the Caribbean association Sonjé's event in St-Denis and an exhibition at the Departmental Archives in Guadeloupe. These events underscore a growing interest and recognition of the BUMIDOM's impact on Guadeloupeans and Martinicans.
For some, migration through the BUMIDOM allowed for personal and professional success, while for many it was exploitative and coercive. Racial discrimination was a common experience for migrants under the BUMIDOM scheme, with low-skilled and under-paid jobs in healthcare and domestic service being the norm [1]. Despite these challenges, the memories of the BUMIDOM have circulated across borders, families, and generations, offering a testament to resilience and the power of storytelling.
In conclusion, the BUMIDOM's historical significance lies in its role as a state-led migration scheme that shaped French and Caribbean societies post-World War II. Its cultural legacy includes narratives of migration, resistance, and identity formation, addressing both opportunities and hardships experienced by Caribbean migrants. Creative works—especially literature, film, and academic research—play a crucial role in commemorating BUMIDOM, enabling postmemory and giving voice to marginalized migrant histories. These cultural memories continue to inform discussions around migration, colonial legacies, and inclusion in both France and the French Caribbean today.
References: [1] Wimbush, A. (2023). BUMIDOM (1963-1982) and its Afterlives. University of Minnesota Press. [2] Thébaud, M. (2021). La migration des Antillais vers la France: une histoire à revisiter. Le Monde. [3] Curier, C. (2019). Mon aventure avec le BUMIDOM. Éditions de l'Aube. [4] Ega, F. (2018). Lettres à une noire. Éditions de l'Aube. [5] Mbamalu, O. (2019). L'histoire des migrations caribéennes: un défi pour l'enseignement en France. Revue française de pédagogie. [6] Wimbush, A. (2021). Queer(y)ing Bodily Norms in Francophone Culture. Routledge. [7] Wimbush, A. (2021). Autofiction: A Female Francophone Aesthetic of Exile. Routledge.
In the realm of education and self-development, Antonia Wimbush, a Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Melbourne, examines the cultural legacy of BUMIDOM through her book, BUMIDOM (1963-1982) and its Afterlives, arguing that creative works can serve as a memorial function for marginalized communities. This scholarship on BUMIDOM highlights the importance of learning about its complex history, addressing migration, resistance, and identity formation, and how creative works are instrumental in preserving and commemorating this legacy.
