The Liberty Monument

The Liberty Monument is an historic monument in Victoria, Seychelles, erected in commemoration of the Seychelles’ independence from Britain. The monument was designed and sculpted by Tom Bowers, British-Seychellois artist, and was cast in bronze at the Bronze Age Foundry in Cape Town, South Africa. It depicts a man and a woman holding over their heads the national flag. The sturdy, masculine figure with raised arms and clenched fists, freed from chains, symbolizes triumphant defiance and victory for a truly independent nation.

On the occasion of Seychelles’ 38th anniversary of Independence, on 29 June 2014, President James Michel attended a flag-raising ceremony at the Lavwa Lanasyon monument in Victoria in the morning, together with the Vice-President, Danny Faure, religious leaders and dignitaries. They then walked further down 5th June Avenue, to watch the unveiling of the new national Liberty monument. President Michel unveiled the plaque for the monument, while two youths unveiled the statue from underneath its golden cloth at the same time.

The new monument replaced the Liberation monument which was removed from the 5th June Avenue in April 2014 in the midst of mixed public reaction after Michel announced the gesture as a step towards national unity.

The grand edifice is located in Mont Fleuri on the Mahe island. The statue represents unity, patriotism and hope to be a tribute to those who dedicated their lives to freedom and also to the youth. Liberty Monument is to be listed as a national monument.

The Zonm Lib

The Zonm Lib (Free man) is a powerful symbol of La Liberté for all Seychelles residents who rebelled against colonial oppression and injustice on 5 June 1977. The metal statue used to stand behind the People’s Stadium on 5th of June Avenue and is now in front of the Communication Center (ICCS), near the United Seychelles party building. The Zonm Lib was removed from its original location following a decision by the ruling Parti Lepep. Opposition party members felt that the statue was more of a party emblem than a national monument. This could be one of the reasons for its removal to the party headquarters.

The Liberation Monument was inaugurated in 1978 by the President of the Second Republic, on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the Coup d’etat which finally put an end to colonialism, oppression and injustice. The President dedicated the monument to the martyrs of the Revolution. In March 1989 marble steps were added to the granite base on which it stands, flanked by the national flag. The Zonm Lib statue depicting a man breaking free of chains, was installed in 1978 to mark the country’s struggle for independence on ‘Liberation Day’ of June 5 1977 which saw the removal from power of the archipelago’s first president, James Mancham, in coup that installed his prime minister, France Albert Rene as head of state. Rene introduced a socialist one-party state, and then a multi-party system in 1992, following which he stood for three elections, winning each presidential poll with a large majority until he stepped down in 2004.

The ‘Zonm Lib’ symbolizes the glory of Seychelles’ Independent nationhood.

Unity Monument
Unity Monument was unveiled in 1987. Unity Monument depicts 4 large white fish. Each fish represents one of the four pillars of the economy in Seychelles: Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries and Small Businesses. It is located at the roundabout near the National Library in Victoria, at the junction of 5th June Avenue and Liberation Avenue. The monument was intended as a fountain as well.

The Liberation Day

Three people died during the coup of June 5, 1977; Francis Rachel, and Berard Janie and Son Chang-Him. Rachel was part of the coup operation, while the latter two were not and for this reason opposition activists argue it is a symbol of division, rather than unity, in the history of the country, as those who opposed the coup lament their deaths.

Since 1978, every June 5th has been a national holiday, when wreaths and flowers are laid down by dignitaries and the population at ‘Zonm Lib'(Liberation Monument). In the aftermath of multi-party democracy, this monument symbolises the spirit of revolutionary fervour and the will of the people of Seychelles to keep the flag of peace, harmony and freedom flying in the future.

The 1977 Seychelles coup d’état was a virtually bloodless coup that occurred 4–5 June 1977. Some supporters of the Seychelles People’s United Party, who had been training in Tanzania, overthrew President Sir James Mancham of the Seychelles Democratic Party whilst he was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the United Kingdom. Since then 5th June has been celebrated as liberation day.