L’Ancien Tribunal de Mamoudzou, un témoin de l’architecture du xxe siècle à Mayotte

Abstract

When Mayotte was purchased by France in 1841, major works were undertaken on the island to provide central administration and dwellings for civil servants and colonists. Studying the buildings known as "the Old Courthouse" (built in 1955) not only gives an insight into the organisation of justice in Mayotte since the second half of the 19th century, but also makes it possible to follow the establishment of French administration on the island, from Dzaoudzi (Petite Terre) to Mamoudzou (Grande Terre). Although this architectural whole is no longer used for its original legal function, the Old Courthouse of Mamoudzou still remains monumental at the seafront. It stands as a testament to the introduction of architectural prototypes for the administrative buildings in the mid-20th century. Halfway between preservation and the desire for modernity, the question of restoring and re-appropriating a site recently listed as a historic monument (monument historique) calls for some reflection in Mayotte.

Keywords

• Mayotte
• Dzaoudzi
• Mamoudzou
• Indian ocean
• Comoros
• Madagascar