United Nations Celebrates Heritage, Culture of African Diaspora on International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery, Transatlantic Slave Trade
The United Nations observes on 25 March the ninth International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. An estimated 15 million men, women and children were victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, the largest forced migration in history.
This year’s theme, “Remember Slavery: Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and Its Roots”, draws attention to the rich African culture and traditions that have impacted life in countries that were involved in the slave trade and where the African diaspora continues to make major contributions in all aspects of life. It also highlights the cultural linkages that exist among people of African descent throughout the world.
“It is imperative that we work together for equal opportunity, justice and sustainable development for people of African descent. That is why the United Nations Remember Slavery Programme is reaching out to young and old alike to create awareness, promote understanding and change attitudes,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The United Nations General Assembly will hold a special commemorative meeting on 29 March where Sheila S. Walker, a cultural anthropologist, filmmaker and Executive Director of Afrodiaspora, Inc., will deliver the keynote address.
A cultural and culinary event will take place that evening in the United Nations Visitors’ Lobby, celebrating the traditional African rhythms and cuisine that have strongly influenced the Americas and the Caribbean. The Dion Parsons & 21st Century Band, comprising musicians from the Caribbean, New Mexico and West Africa, will perform.
Additional activities include a 24 March panel discussion and performance on “The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Constructing New Amistad, Bunce Island, Gullah, Maroon and Nova Scotia Bridges”, as well as a 14 April briefing on “The Musical Journey of the African Diaspora”. Also, United Nations Information Centres will organize a number of commemorative and educational activities around the world, which include screenings in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish of the film Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon Chieftainess, produced by Roy T. Anderson. In addition, nearly 20 countries will display the exhibition “Africans in India: From Slaves to Generals and Rulers”, created and curated by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library and produced in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish, in partnership with the United Nations Remember Slavery Programme.
The Remember Slavery Programme, managed by the Education Outreach Section of the Department of Public Information, was established by the General Assembly in 2007 to honour the memory of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. It also aims at raising awareness of the dangers of racism and prejudice today with activities held and educational materials produced throughout the year, including tours of the Ark of Return Memorial at United Nations Headquarters each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
To learn more, please visit www.rememberslavery.un.org and follow the Programme on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rememberslavery and Twitter @rememberslavery.
For more information, please contact Omyma David, United Nations Department of Public Information, at tel.: +1 917 367 6320, or e-mail: david17@un.org.