Roundtable: Struggles Against Slavery in West Africa Today

Biram Dah Abeid (IRA, Mauritania), Ali Bouzou (Timidria, Niger), Amadou Diemdioda Dicko (Burkina Faso), Maduagwu Stella Ogechukwu (IFETACSIOS, Nigeria) and Rhaichatou Walet Altanata (Temedt, Mali) have worked for decades as frontline human rights defenders, supporting those affected by slavery and its legacies, including descent-based slavery, trafficking, discrimination and marginalisation. They have lobbied their governments and international institutions to strengthen national and international efforts to eradicate slavery and protect the most vulnerable. At this roundtable, West African anti-slavery activists will discuss the challenges they have faced, the strategies they have developed, the results they have achieved, and their vision for future directions in their efforts to end slavery in Africa and the world.

This roundtable will precede the opening of the 'African Voices Against Slavery' exhibition at UCL East on 3 December.

PROGRAMME

Welcome on behalf of UCL:
Matthew Smith, Professor of History and Director of the Center for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery.

Chair’s introduction:
Benedetta Rossi, Professor of History and PrincipaI Investigator of 'African Abolitionism: The Rise and Transformations of Antislavery in Africa (AFRAB)'

Presentations: 
- Biram Dah Abeid, President of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) and parliamentarian (Mauritania)

- Ali Bouzou, President of L’Association Timidria (Niger)

- Rhaichatou Walet Altanata, Vice-President of Temedt (Mali)

- Amadu Diemdioda Dicko, former minister and parliamentarian, human rights defender (Burkina Faso)

- Maduagwu Stella Ogechukwu, President of Initiative for the Eradication of Traditional and Cultural Stigmatisation in our Society (IFETACSIOS), Nigeria

Discussants:
- Olutayo Adesina, Professor of History, University of Ibadan, Nigeria and holder of a British Academy Global Professorship, Manchester University

- Adam Mahamat, Assistant Professor of History, University of Maroua, Cameroon

Q&A

Introductory Seminar: West African Antislavery Movements 
Why are anti-slavery movements so important in West Africa today? What are these movements, how have they emerged, and what forms of slavery are they confronting? On 25 November, Benedetta Rossi will hold a seminar to introduce the West African anti-slavery movements whose leaders will speak at the Round Table on 2 December. The seminar will trace their recent historical development and discuss their structure, membership, and approaches. 

If you would like to attend this introductory seminar, please register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introductory-seminar-west-african-anti-slavery-movements-tickets-1080272035739?aff=oddtdtcreator

The roundtable is organised by the AFRAB Project, which received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon2020 research and innovation program of the European Union (grant agreement no. 885418).