October 12, 1919: first regular connection by seaplane
In French Guiana, in 1919, road infrastructures in the interior of the territory were rare and made journeys long and perilous. For example, depending on the season, it takes between 15 and 25 days by canoe to connect St Laurent to Inini, along the Maroni River. By plane, this same journey is reduced to 2 hours. The arrival in French Guiana will radically change the situation.
October 12, 1919 is the date when the first seaplane traveled the Saint-Laurent du Maroni_Cayenne route for the first time and landed in the cove behind the Government Palace.
It was also the inauguration of the regular services of the new company Transports Aériens Guyanais (T.A.G.), created in June 1919 by Commander Dutertre.
Two regular lines are operated, twice a week in each direction in good weather:
- Saint-Laurent du Maroni_Cayenne via Mana and Sinnamary (250km)
- Saint-Laurent du Maroni_Inini via Abounamy (250km)
The T.A.G. provides passenger transport (3 passengers) and postal services.
The organization of airlines in French Guiana will have enormous repercussions in Brazil, Venezuela and throughout South America.
Unfortunately, for lack of adequate financial means, the life of the company will be short and the T.A.G. will have to close after 3 years, in 1922.
"Mouvements d'avions"(Aircraft movements) the essential song
The arrival in French Guiana of the first seaplane and especially the arrival in Cayenne, in front of a jubilant crowd, had a huge impact on the population.
Vers 1922/1923, le compositeur guyanais, d’ascendance martiniquaise, Samuel Lubin alias Edgar Nibul (1862-1948), écrit la chanson « Mouvements d’avions » pour immortaliser l’événement.
Published by Editions Avon in Lyon, "Mouvements d'avions" is the very first song in the triptych dedicated by Edgar Nibul to this theme of aviation in Guyana.
This song has become a classic of the Guyanese repertoire, a staple sung by all choirs and schools.
Couplet 01
Promiè fouè avion améri
Dèriè gouvelment
Pou té ouè’l toutt moun pran couri
Foce yé té content
Quand li ka vini pa la-rhaut
Li drètt coun’ zozau
Quand l’assous la mè ça n’posson
Ti gain grand zèlron
Refrain
Pendant lika fendé lè
Coun’ zozau
Li ka roumin so dèriè
A forc’ li gros
Pou traverser mauvé vent
Ti ka vini pa divant
Couplet 02
Avant l’voyagé bo d’la-rhaut
Quand vent ka venté
Yé ka fait l’nagé p’tit moceau
Avant li monté
Oun’ fouè li laissé d’lau lamè
Pou l’volé enlè
So mécanicien ka soufflé
Li minm’ka ronflé.
Au refrain
Couplet 03
Quand li ka pati pour placè
Dipi Maroni
Li ka suiv’ toutt temps la riviè
Jouqu’a Inini
Ca mound ti pressé pou yé ouè
Toutt suite yé zaffè
Ti lé gain pis vite yé million
Yé ka pran avion
Au refrain
Couplet 04
Quand li ka passé so langa
Dipi Saint-Laurent
Li ka pran, pou vin’ Macouria
Juss’ deux heur’ di temps
Ca passagers li ka poté
Pour descend’ Cayenne
Di Macouria yé ka metté
Tout juss’oun’ simaine.
Au Refrain
Couplet 05
Yé réson di dit : Oun zaffè
Pas jin drol dé fouè
Oun jou li pati vent ariè
Li p’té ka ouè clè
Li té pran n’chinois à so bô
Pou vin’ Macouria
Li minin l’ jouqu’ Iracoubo
Ouè Mouché Lama.
Au Refrain
« Mouvements d’avions » porté à la postérité à Paris
Recorded in Paris by Henri VOLMAR and his Guyanese Orchestra, in January 1932, on Odéon 78rpm KI 5211, "Mouvements d'avions" is a biguine that has become a Guyanese classic, which is very successful. It is the Guyanese singer, Hélène Brunet who provides the vocal part.
« Mouvements d’avions » et Jean Galmot
The song "Mouvements d'avion" is part of the soundtrack of the film "Jean Galmot, aventurier" directed in 1990 by Alain Maline.
Jean Galmot (born June 2, 18791 in Monpazier, Dordogne – died August 6, 1928, Cayenne, French Guiana) was a French businessman, adventurer and writer. Elected deputy of French Guiana in 1919, he was implicated and unjustly imprisoned for fraud in the "Rum affairs"
Also an airplane pilot, Jean Galmot, has invested in Transports Aériens Guyanais, a company in which he is a shareholder.
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