"Annou pous nou pti pirog!"

There’s a nostalgic song by Thomas Alexis which we were taught as children and often comes to mind whenever we prepare to leave Aride Island. It goes like this.
“Annou pous nou pti pirog, dan delo, dan delo…
Annou pous nou pti pirog, pou al lapes pwason tou kouler, laba dan fon lanmer.”
 
The song captures the joy of fishermen as they happily push their traditional “pirogue” into the sea to go fishing. It evokes the simple life of the islanders and the necessity of going out to sea. But here on Aride Island, even if the traditional canoe has been replaced by the much lighter and more modern Rigid inflatable boat or RIB, (bright orange in colour!), pushing the boat to leave the island is not such an enjoyable experience - especially during the rough and windy South-east monsoon.
 
Aride Island, located near Praslin Island is a Special Reserve managed by the Island Conservation Society (ICS). A small team of seven to ten staff live permanently on the island, which has only one accessible beach close to their living quarters. Life on the island fosters a deep respect for nature, as daily activities are shaped by their surrounding environment. From the constant chorus of birds to the hundreds of curious lizards and watchful geckos, the island is teeming with wildlife, and the human presence is just a small part of a larger natural world.
 
However, some luxuries are required and thus, a trip to Praslin Island is a weekly necessity. Aride’s rugged and secluded terrain, particularly during the Southeast monsoon, when the strong wind and current expose jagged coral heads and large boulders, makes leaving the island difficult and some days even impossible.
 
Only the brave few and those that truly need to would leave once a week for a shopping trip to Praslin. On that day, the islanders gather early in the morning, some clutching their amulets or after offering a quiet prayer for protection. Loading the orange RIB with empty fuel containers, bottles, a few bags and litter, they wait patiently in the surf, watching the waves and listening to the boatman’s signal to launch. Thereafter a tense ritual lasting several minutes pursue. Splash! Splash! Splash! Each waves are followed by grunts mixed with a few foul words and comments as the battered islanders try to keep the boat steady. Finally, the boatman shouts, “Annou!” (Let's go!), and with seconds to spare, he starts the engine, and as if on cue the passengers fumble onboard, soaked but relieved.
 
Despite the exhilaration of finally departing, it's not without risk or discomfort. The small orange boat skids past one wave at a time, revving regularly. Huddled together, the brave few have their eyes peeled on the next incoming wave and rarely have time to assess the cuts and scratches or the aching and soaring they may have endured, as this is a vital part of life on Aride. The journey to Praslin takes about 45 minutes, a ride fraught with drama as the boat navigates through open water, past Île au Fou, and close to Anse Kerlan, and finally landing in the shallow and calmer beach of Grand Anse. Upon arrival, the boatman calls the island to confirm the group’s safe passage, bringing relief to those left behind. This journey is repeated each week, alternating passengers so everyone has a chance to visit Praslin for groceries and reconnect with family and friends.
 
Living on Aride is an exercise in resilience, dictated by the rhythms of the sea and the whims of the weather. It’s a lifestyle that requires respect for nature’s unpredictable forces—a far cry from the carefree joy of pushing a pirogue, as celebrated in that old children’s song.
 
Contributed by Sharon Meriton-jean