Participant of international conference: People of Guadeloupe opposes officialization of French language

The people of Guadeloupe are against the officialization of the French language on the island, Jean-Jacques Bissep, chairman of the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe, said at the international conference "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious-National Identity" held in Baku, Report informs.

Bissep noted that the attempt to officialize the French language in Guadeloupe is part of the assimilation process on the island:

"Assimilation is a weapon of mass destruction. Africans have been subjected to this for centuries. They were Christianized in the name of becoming a civilized society. The culture of enslaved peoples was restricted because it was seen as a threat."

He said that Guadeloupe is trying to protect its culture and traditions:

"We want our dances, music, traditions to live, our language to be preserved. Therefore, we must fight together with other peoples subjected to colonization. Our diversity must become our strength."