Where the Tirailleurs’ Stories Meet

Founded in 2000, Ancrages is dedicated to honoring the cultures and memories of migrant communities that have shaped Marseille throughout its history. As a major Mediterranean port and strategic transit point during both world wars, Marseille served as a central stage for the movements and experiences of the Tirailleurs.

The discussion will explore how Ancrages addresses the lived realities and historical erasure of the Tirailleurs through contemporary, collective forms of remembrance that promote a pluralistic and inclusive memory. Through critical city tours, workshops, documentary practices, and civic engagement, Ancrages challenges the whitewashing of history and reaffirms the association’s motto: “C’est par le récit que nous existons et que nous nous désignons au monde” (“It is through storytelling that we exist and make ourselves known to the world”).

This conviction aligns with a thought expressed by Frantz Fanon in The Wretched of the Earth (1961): “Each generation must discover its mission in relative darkness and either fulfill it or betray it.”

Moderated by Paz Guevara and Qu Chang

IN ENGLISH