Animation Film “El Zumbido de Baláam Kaab”
Grenn Mawon
educational program around Jaden Yich Nou
Grenn Mawon is a year-long educational program dedicated to exploring the local environment around the primary school Clémence Caristan in Le Prêcheur. Developed by Permactivie, the program seeks to reignite students' curiosity about their surroundings and empower them with the skills to collaboratively address environmental issues they are facing.
Jaden Yich NouJaden Yich Nou
Jaden Yich Nou is an educational garden conceived with and for children. It's a lab-garden, a space for experimentation where children have the opportunity to imagine their own ancestral practices of tomorrow. It's a "jadenstalasyon", a garden-sized artistic installation, inhabited by the magic of artistic creations and eco-responsible works of art. It's a “jaden razyé”; a garden that recaptures the spirit and aesthetic freedom of the Caribbean vernacular garden, while applying the principles of permaculture.
Phases of the implementation of Jaden Yich Nou
Seeds
The theme of the school year 2023-2024 was seeds. Over several months, students discovered and revitalized an unused space behind their school, transforming it into a vibrant garden - the "Jaden Yich Nou". By observing the land's contours and existing flora, they actively contributed to the garden's creation and upkeep, engaging in planting and watering activities throughout the whole year. This hands-on learning in the garden was further extended and enriched by a workshop series that focused on the interconnectedness of cultural, and artistic expressions of everyday with the connection to and experiences in nature, nurtured by spending time in the garden with the students.
For the series the three artists Françoise Dô, Yémendja Abatuci, and Christel Symphor were invited to work with the students on storytelling, sound production, music and dance.
Storytelling workshop with Françoise Dô
During the workshop sessions with Françoise Dô—author, playwrite and director working on exploring identity and cultural narratives—students explored the garden and discovered a variety of seeds. They engaged their senses, observing, smelling, and touching each seed they found. Every child selected a seed and drew it, then shared what they knew about it with the group. Were these seeds familiar to them? Did they play a role in their daily lives? Did they know of any stories connected to them? Collectively the students created a story based on their reflections, which they then recorded in their own voices.
Sound recording workshop with Yémendja Abatuci
In the second workshop, led by Yémendja Abatuci, the children explored the sensory world of seeds in more depth. Yémendja Abatuci works around sound creation and radio, and introduced the students to various seeds native to Martinique. Working in pairs, one student was blindfolded while the other presented different seeds, prompting the blindfolded partner to describe the sensations they felt. Was the seed smooth? Soft? Rough? Pungent? Each interaction was recorded, capturing the children’s descriptions and reactions. This exercise not only sharpened the students sensory awareness but also encouraged them to connect touch and feel with sound and language, nurturing their engagement with their immediate natural surroundings.
Music and dance workshop with Christel Symphor
In the third workshop students explored the cultural traditions of Lasotè, Bèlè, and rimèd razyé. Together with Christel Symphor, a composer, actress, and singer whos work is dedicated to introducing young children to the cultural musical heritage and dance traditions of Martinique, through colllective singing, moving and playing. In the workshop sessions, students learned songs in Creole following the theme of the seed, drawing on traditional Martinican rhythms such as Bèlè, and rimèd razyé. The performance they choreographed was inspired by the resilience, potentials, and vitality carried by seeds.
The results of the workshop series were shared with the all students of the Clémence Caristan elementary and primary school. Each workshop’s outcomes were displayed, showcasing the collective learning experiences in the garden and the multiple creations of music, dance, storytelling, and recording.
The presentation not only highlighted the artistic works of the students, but also aimed to familiarize new students with the program’s activities, setting the stage for their involvement in Jaden Yich Nou in the coming cycles.
