Honoring the Past, Demanding Justice: Africans Rising Calls for Reparations

The history of slavery and slave trade is one of the activities that greatly dehumanised the black race and Africans as a whole. Our forefathers were treated as less humans, battered and forced to work extremely hard under difficult conditions in European plantations. In commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on March 25, 2025, Africans Rising hosted a powerful webinar. The event brought together stakeholders from across Africa and the Diaspora to discuss the need for reparations as a crucial step towards justice and healing.

The webinar featured notable speakers, including Oyoo Sungu, Brenda Wanjiru, Prince Ayanda Manala Sibindi, Kimberly Poole, and Dr. Clarence Jackson. They explored the complexities of reparations, including the history of invasion and organised crimes against humanity inflicted upon Africans. The impact of colonialism on African identities and cultures, and the role of language in colonisation and domination.

The speakers emphasised that reparations are not just about financial compensation, but encompasses honest acknowledgement of wrongdoing, sincere formal apologies, return of stolen artifacts and cultural symbols. Repatriation of remains and descendants of slaves to Africa, policy reforms, cultural restitution, and systemic change to correct historical injustices.

The webinar achieved several objectives, including honoring victims of the slave trade, educating and raising awareness, advocating for reparations, and fostering Pan-African solidarity. Africans Rising remains committed to ensuring that the call for justice and reparative action is realised. The fight for reparations is not just about the past; it is about correcting present inequalities and securing a just future.

The event concluded with a call to action, including:

• Strengthen advocacy for policies and frameworks that recognize and address historical injustices.
• Empower communities through education and awareness-raising initiatives.
• Forge solidarity among activists, policymakers, and scholars to demand justice and reparations.
• Support the creation of an Africans People’s Commission on Reparations to pursue reparative justice for Africans.

Key Takeaways:

• The legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to impact African identities, cultures, and economies.
• Language plays a crucial role in colonization and domination, and indigenous languages must be promoted and preserved.
• Pan-African solidarity is essential in the fight for reparations and justice.