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Déwé Gorodé, one of New Caledonia's most prominent literary figures, was a Kanak poet, writer, and politician, an Indigenous people of the region. Her work includes poetry, short stories, and novels, often addressing Kanak culture and the struggle for autonomy. Her works include L'Épave (The Pavement) and Par les temps qui courent (These days). New Caledonia is not an independent country but a French territory located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It has a high degree of autonomy, but is still part of France. The government has been holding referendums on independence, the most recent of which was held in 2021, and the majority of voters chose to remain part of France.
New Caledonian literature reflects the rich cultural and historical diversity of its French territory in the South Pacific. Composed of a mix of Indigenous oral traditions and European colonial influences, New Caledonian literature addresses themes such as identity, colonization, cultural resistance and social issues contemporary. Authors such as Jean Mariotti, Déwé Gorodé and Paul Wamo are known for exploring these themes in their works, offering unique perspectives on the history and contemporary life on the island. Local literature continues to evolve, incorporating new voices and narratives that reflect the region's cultural complexity and richness.
Déwé Gorodé was a leader in defending women's rights and fighting for self-determination for Indigenous peoples. She played a crucial role in the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in the French territory of New Caledonia. Her death, on August 14, 2022, at the age of seventy-three, marked the end of a life dedicated to courage and activism.
Active in the fight for French independence in the 1970s, Gorodé published poetry, short stories, and novels. From 1999, she was a member of the New Caledonian government, representing the Pro-independence Kanak and the Socialist National Liberation Front. From April 2001 to June 2009, she served continuously as Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia.
History of New Caledonia
New Caledonia's history is marked by the interaction between Indigenous cultures, European colonization, and modern political developments. Initially inhabited by the Kanaks around 3,000 years ago, Indigenous society developed thanks to agriculture and fishing. British explorer James Cook was the first European to arrive in New Caledonia, in 1774, more than 2,000 years after the initial settlement of the archipelago.
At the time, around 60,000 Kanaks, the largest local ethnic group, lived on the island. Cook named the island, whose mountainous setting reminded him of Caledonia, a historical and poetic name for the region that today roughly corresponds to Scotland. It is not a city, but a geographic area. The Romans used the term "Caledonia" to refer to the territory north of Hadrian's Wall, where the tribes called the Caledonians lived. Today, the name is used in a literary or nostalgic way to refer to Scotland.
In the 19th century, France claimed the island due to its wealth of minerals, especially nickel, bringing in European workers and administrators who altered local society. In 1853, Napoleon III formalized French possession. During the colonial period, the island served as a penal colony, receiving political prisoners and common criminals, impacting the territory's demography and culture.
The discovery of nickel boosted mining. In 1887, the Code de l'indigénat (Native Status Code) was enforced, subjecting Indigenous populations to strict rules, and depriving them of civil rights. Many Kanaks were enslaved and forced to work. After several failed attempts to free itself from colonial rule, New Caledonia became a French overseas territory after World War II. The Kanaks received French citizenship and gradually the right to vote.
In the 1970s, an independence movement led by the Kanaks emerged, resulting in significant conflicts, such as the Ouvéa Events in 1988, marked by violence and ethnic tensions. To resolve the conflicts, the Matignon Agreement (1988) and the Nouméa Agreement (1998) were signed, establishing a path to greater autonomy for New Caledonia, with referendums on independence in 2018 and 2020. Today, the Kanaks represent around 40% of the population of 270 thousand inhabitants and Europeans 24%. The currency is pegged to the euro, and citizens can vote in French elections and for the European Parliament.
Continued Demands for Independence
In 1986, the United Nations reinscribed the territory as "non-self-governing". In 1988, France granted more autonomy. However, most of the population, especially descendants of French colonialists, prefer to remain with France, for economic reasons: in 2020, New Caledonia received 1.5 billion euros from France, representing around 20% of the country's economic output. territory. In the 2018 and 2020 referendums, only 43.6% and 46.7% voted for independence, respectively.
In 2021, a referendum boycotted by independence parties resulted in almost 97% against independence. The recent indignation of independence defenders arose after a constitutional reform that extended the right to vote in regional elections to French people who have lived in the archipelago for more than ten years. Until then, this right was reserved for the original population and immigrants who already lived in the territory before 1998. The new law, not yet signed by President Emmanuel Macron, is seen by pro-independence parties as an attempt to dilute their political weight, benefiting politicians pro-French and marginalizing the Kanaks, who have historically suffered from segregationist policies and discrimination.
Protests that occurred in May 2024
The 2024 protests in New Caledonia began following a controversial electoral reform, which attempted to ease voting restrictions imposed by the Nouméa Agreement. The agreement limited the electorate to pre-1998 residents and their descendants, excluding migrants from other parts of France. Although in 2005 the European Court of Human Rights found this acceptable, the system was considered obsolete following the 2018, 2020 and 2021 referendums, which rejected independence. Independence advocates rejected reform to a ten-year continuous residency requirement, claiming it would dilute the Kanaks' political voice.
Violence
Supermarkets and car dealerships were looted, vehicles and businesses were set on fire in Numeá, Dumbéa and Le Mont-Dore. A curfew was implemented, and public gatherings were banned for two days. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin sent police reinforcements. Thirty-six protesters were detained following clashes that resulted in the deaths of three Kanak protesters and a gendarme. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal mobilized the army to protect ports and airports, and banned TikTok, which was used to organize the riots.
Casualties and impact
Between 13 and 18 May, violent clashes in New Caledonia resulted in the deaths of six people, including two gendarmes, and left sixty-four police officers injured. Five independence activists were placed under house arrest for their involvement in violence, which included shootings. The riots resulted in the death of a Caldoche man in Kaala-Gomen and injuries to two Kanak protesters during a roadblock.
The damage was significant, with damage estimated at more than two hundred million euros, the destruction of more than 150 companies and the loss of around 1,750 jobs. La Tontouta International Airport closed to commercial flights, and the food distribution network suffered serious impacts, according to the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In response, the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay was canceled in New Caledonia, and bus service in Numeá was suspended for safety reasons from 14 May.
The life of Déwé Gorodé
Born on June 1, 1949, into the Pwârâïriwâ tribe of the Kanak people, Eperi Déwé Gorodé grew up in the Kanak Tribu de l’Embouchure tribe, near Ponerihouen, on the east coast of the main island of New Caledonia. Déwé Gorodé received primary education in Houaïlou and in the capital Nouméa then attended Lapérouse High School in Nouméa, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
Gorodé was one of the first Kanak women to study at university. In 1973, she graduated in literature in Montpellier, a city located in the south of France, known for its rich history, prestigious universities, and vibrant cultural scene. As a writer and teacher, she worked tirelessly for her people, so she is remembered for her dedication to Kanak education and culture, as well as her significant role in the New Caledonian independence movement. In 1974, Gorodé returned to New Caledonia, married, had three children, and worked as a French teacher at a Catholic school in the suburbs of Nouméa.
Déwé Gorodé's Political Activism
Déwé Gorodé was deeply influenced by global political movements such as the Aboriginal movement in Australia, Black power in the United States, protests the Vietnam War and the events of May 1968 in France. All of this sparked her political engagement, leading her to join the radical youth movement Foulards Rouges and co-found Groupe 1878 in 1974. She was arrested in September of the same year for protesting the commemoration of the colonization of New Caledonia, a period during which she wrote poetry and reflected on the role of women in the independence movement.
In 1976, Gorodé helped found the Parti de Libération Kanak (Palika), one of the region's main political parties. She also supported the movement for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP), attending independence movement meetings in Pohnpei, alongside influential figures such as Oscar Temaru, Gary Foley, Bernard Narokobi and Father Walter Lini. Her activism was shaped by intense social struggles and the desire for self-determination for her people in New Caledonia and the South Pacific.
Together with Susanna Ounei, she founded the Groupe de Femmes Kanak Exploitées en Lutte (GFKEL), which integrated into the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in 1984.
In 1999, Déwé Gorodé and Léonie Tidjite Varnier were the first women elected to the New Caledonian Congress, representing the Northern Province. Under the government of Jean Lèques, Gorodé held the positions of Culture, Youth and Sports. After the March 2001 provincial elections, Pierre Frogier succeeded Lèques as president of the Congress, and Gorodé, representing the FLNKS, became vice-president of the Government. She held the Culture, Youth and Sports portfolio until June 2004, when she was re-elected vice-president and appointed responsible for Culture, Status of Women and Citizenship.
From 2004 to 2007, Gorodé was vice-president of the Congress, while Marie-Noëlle Thémereau assumed the presidency for L'Avenir Ensemble. In the 2007 elections, there was growing support for remaining in France. Harold Martin became president of Congress and Gorodé continued as vice-president, maintaining a political climate of accommodation between the parties, despite the RPCR once again gaining influence. In 2009, Martin was re-elected president of Congress, with FLNKS's Pierre Ngaiohni elected vice-president after a brief delay. Déwé Gorodé's political trajectory reflects her commitment to culture, women's rights, and political collaboration in New Caledonia.
Education and poetry
Déwé Gorodé abandoned the formal education system in 1985 to lead the Ecoles Populaires Kanak (EPK) movement, establishing community schools that taught Indigenous history, culture, and languages to children. After a FLNKS Congress in Hienghène, she was prevented from returning to Noumea by French police, finding refuge locally. During the armed conflict, she published her first book of poetry, Sous les cendres des conques (Under the Ashes of Shells - 1985), and continued to write in French, English and Païci, contributing significantly to the Kanak cultural revival.
During the 1990s, Déwé Gorodé produced several works, including collections of short stories such as Utê Mûrûnûu (1994) and L'Agenda (The agenda - 1996), and poetry collections such as Par les temps qui Courent (In current times - 1996) and Dire le vrai (Tell the truth - 1999). Her later novels, such as "L’épave" (The Pavement - 2005) and Graines de pin colonnaire (Columnar Pine Seeds - 2007), reflect her dedication to Indigenous and feminist literature, seeking to inspire the new generation.
Recognized in France and the Pacific, Déwé stated: I do not write for myself. I write for children, for future generations. Her work continues to be an influential voice in the cultural and political context of New Caledonia, standing out for her progressive vision and commitment to preserving Kanak identity.
Teacher and author
Déwé Gorodé, former French teacher at the Do-Néva Protestant College, Houaïlou, left teaching in 1984 after events occurred in Hienghène. She joined the Kanak Popular School (EPK) in Ponérihouen, teaching Paicî until 1988. She published her first book of poetry, Sous les Ashes des conques (Under the Ashes of the Shells – 1985), exposing traditional culture and political issues.
Regionally recognized, Déwé participated in missions in Mali, led by Marie-Claude Tjibaou, and worked at the Kanak Cultural Development Agency, from 1994 to 1995. She taught history of Pacific literature at the University of New Caledonia (1999-2001) and participated in the Salon du livre insulaire (Island Book Fair), in 2002. In 2009, he received the distinction Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of Arts and Letters).
Déwé Gorodé's writing style
Déwé Gorodé is known for a writing style that mixes poetry, prose, and essays, often exploring themes linked to Kanak identity, colonization, the struggle for independence and the role of women in society. Her style can be described as:
Lyrical and Poetic – Gorodé's writing is often poetic, with an intense use of imagery and symbolism that evokes Kanak landscape, culture, and traditions.
Engaged and Political – her texts are deeply politically engaged, reflecting her personal and collective experiences of resistance against colonization and her defense of the rights of women and Indigenous peoples.
Narrative and Reflective – it combines personal narratives with reflections on history and society, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.
Culturally Rooted – her writing is strongly anchored in Kanak culture. She uses myths, traditional stories, and the local language to enrich her works and give a voice to her community.
Autobiographical – many of her writings have an autobiographical character, as she relates her own experiences and struggles within the larger context of New Caledonia's history.
Main Books
Under the Ashes of the Shells
Under the Ashes of Shells is a dive into Kanak culture and the struggle for independence in New Caledonia. With lyrical and poetic language, Gorodé narrates stories that examine the identity, resistance, and ability of the Kanak people to overcome.
The book addresses topics such as colonization, oppression, the struggle for freedom and the role of women in society. The narrative is rich in symbolism and evocative images that reflect the culture of New Caledonia. The characters are representations of Kanak strength and resilience, whose lives are intertwined by traditions and the search for justice and dignity.
Déwé Gorodé skillfully incorporates elements of Kanak orality and mythology, interconnecting the past and present. The legends and myths intertwined with contemporary reality enrich the narrative and preserve the Kanak cultural heritage.
Under the Ashes of the Shells is essential for anyone interested in postcolonial literature, gender studies, and Indigenous history. The work offers a deep view of the Kanak struggle and invites readers to reflect on universal issues of freedom and perseverance.
The Flight of the Word
The Flight of the Word (La Fuite de la parole), by Déwé Gorodé, is a collection of short stories that reveals the depth and complexity of Kanak culture, as well as exposing the social and political tensions in New Caledonia. Her poetic and evocative writing gives voice to the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of his people.
The tales are permeated with rich Kanak orality and mythology, which transports readers to a world where past and present intertwine. Gorodé uses narrative to present themes such as cultural identity, resistance against colonization, gender oppression and the search for justice and autonomy.
Death of Déwé Gorodé
Affected by health problems in her later years, she continued as Minister for Culture, Citizenship and Women, seeking the post-conflict reconciliation needed to create a “common destiny” for New Caledonia. Her death in August 2022 ended a courageous life as a defender of the rights of Indigenous peoples and the status of women across the region.
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