tirailleurs

FRANCE MOBILIZED 165,000 WEST AFRICANS TO HELP FIGHT THE HORRIFIC BATTLES OF 1917. 

« Il faut y aller avec tous les moyens et ne pas ménager le sang noir, pour conserver un peu le blanc  » wrote Commander-in-Chief Robert Nivelle. One fourth of the troops were killed, their bodies were not returned to their families and it was only in the 1990's that rare survivors were given a pension.

I learned by chance of an African commemoration. Here it is.

The dignity of the event was imposing. I did not understand the speeches, given in Wolof, but did grasp a phrase in French that mentioned, courage, loyalty and resilience.

Striking too were the remarkable costumes of many participants. 

Participants photographed the ceremony.

A photographer for an African television station...

...but there was no French coverage and only two other white people besides me.

The Tirailleurs 

are part of French history.

Many French people would join 

this commemoration,

but they do not know about it.

Perhaps this page will help.

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