Two flags, one people? Symbolism put to the test of politics in Kanaky-New Caledonia

The Kanaky flag was hoisted in 1984 as a symbol of Melanesian resistance against French colonialism in New Caledonia. After the interracial violence that took place in the 1980s, peace amongst the local ethnic groups could be re-established, whereas political symbols were being sought after in order to merge all cultural communities together and to build up a “Caledonian” identity. But no common flag could be defined. This text describes the ambiguous feelings correlated to both Kanak and French banners in this South Pacific archipelago of less than 300.000 people.