In a powerful keynote address at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka forcefully condemned the persistence of modern-day slavery, particularly in Africa. Speaking at the UN Headquarters in New York, Soyinka used the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade to highlight the grim reality of slavery that still exists in various forms around the world.
The theme for this year’s observance, “Acknowledge the past. Repair the present. Build a future of dignity and justice,” resonated deeply with Soyinka as he spoke out against the ongoing exploitation of vulnerable populations. In his impassioned speech, the renowned playwright and activist revealed that slave markets still exist, particularly in Africa, despite international progress in the fight against slavery.
Soyinka pointed out the complexities involved in identifying modern-day slavery, often masked under intricate social and cultural structures involving individuals, communities, and even entire nations. “The existence of slave markets in some parts of the world, including Africa, is undeniable,” Soyinka declared, “though it is often difficult to recognize the conditions that define slavery in today’s world. We must confront this vicious cycle, which perpetuates suffering and exploitation.”
The Nobel Laureate underscored the importance of acknowledging contemporary forms of slavery, citing the 2014 kidnapping of 279 schoolgirls in Nigeria as a chilling example. Soyinka drew parallels between the suffering of these girls, forced into captivity and exploitation, and the horrors of historical slavery, reminding the world that slavery’s grip has not been fully eradicated.
Soyinka’s speech also touched on the role of religion in the perpetuation of slavery, with a scathing critique of how world religions, historically, have been complicit in the exploitation of African people. He noted that the transatlantic slave trade was supported by religious institutions and militarism, which worked hand-in-hand to profit from human misery.
In closing, Soyinka called for a united global effort to end slavery in all its forms. He emphasized the need for vigilance and solidarity in addressing the root causes of modern slavery, stressing that the fight for dignity and justice must continue until all people are free.
