A newly unveiled “counter-monument” in Nancy invites the public to reflect on France’s colonial past and the long-silenced traumas linked to the Algerian independence era. Installed opposite a statue of Sgt Blandan—a symbol of 19th-century French conquest in Algeria—the reflective metal structure carries a message in Tamazight, echoing childhood memories of those who grew up under colonial rule.
Created to challenge traditional heroic monuments, the piece stands at the height of the real Sgt Blandan and features text written in French and Arabic. It offers a “counter-history” that elevates the voices of the colonised and their descendants, encouraging viewers to confront uncomfortable pasts rather than overlook them. The initiative also acknowledges the complex layers of memory tied to Algeria, affecting millions in France with personal or ancestral connections.
The project is part of a broader cultural effort to create shared spaces for dialogue about colonial violence—spaces long absent in French public life. Rather than removing older monuments, supporters of the initiative propose contextualising them with works like this one to foster reflection and understanding. Similar approaches are being considered in other French cities.
For descendants of those affected by colonialism, the counter-monument serves as a symbolic opening—a chance to reconnect with histories once silenced and to integrate them into France’s collective narrative.