A collaborative illustration project documenting the lives of enslaved people who fled Mauritian plantations to live free in the island’s forests — drawn from historical police reports researched by historian Amédée Nagapen. I created the cover illustration and contributed to some of the interior artworks, depicting determined figures rooted in their African heritage, refusing the narrative of victimhood in favour of heroism and resistance.
The project evolved into two forms: a richly illustrated book telling key stories, events, and figures from the maroon resistance, and a card game designed as a pedagogical tool — using gameplay and storytelling to teach Mauritian history to younger generations. Working on this project shifted Seba’s understanding of his own island’s past and deepened his commitment to preserving and honouring the memory of those ancestors.
LERITAZ MARONAZ
September 14, 2023