From Remembrance to Repair: Why the Legacy of Slavery Still Demands Action Today
By Dr. Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park
Every year on 25 March, the world marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It is a day of reflection, but it must also be a day of action.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres described the transatlantic slave trade as “a deep betrayal of human dignity.” He reminded the world that it was “a system born of greed, built on lies, and enforced by violence.”
These words matter, because they tell the truth about what slavery really was.
For more than 400 years, millions of Africans were taken from their homes. They were separated from their families, stripped of their identities, and forced into slavery across the Atlantic Ocean. Many died before they even reached land. Those who survived were made to work under brutal conditions, denied their freedom, their rights, and their humanity.
One of the most powerful accounts of this suffering comes from Olaudah Equiano, who was captured as a child and sold into slavery. In his memoir, he describes being kept below deck on a slave ship, “so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself.” He became so ill and hopeless that he “wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me.”
His words are painful to read, but they are necessary. They remind us that slavery was not just history. It was lived experience. It was real people, real pain, and real loss.
At Freedom Park, we believe that remembering this history is essential. But remembrance alone is not enough.
As António Guterres urged, “we must turn memory into progress and remembrance into responsibility.” This means we must ask ourselves a difficult question: what are we doing today to address the legacy of slavery?
Because the truth is, the effects of slavery did not end when it was abolished.
They continue to shape the world we live in. Many people of African descent still face inequality, discrimination, and limited access to opportunities. Many African countries are still dealing with the long-term effects of exploitation, economic, social, and political.
This is why conversations about reparatory justice are so important.
Reparations are often misunderstood as simply financial payments. But they are much more than that. Reparations are about fixing what was broken. They are about restoring dignity, creating fair opportunities, and correcting historical injustices that continue to affect people today.
There is an African saying: “Mulandu taubola”, a crime does not rot. In simple terms, this means that injustice does not disappear just because time has passed.
If we ignore the past, we allow its consequences to continue.
But if we confront it honestly, we can begin to build a more just and equal society.
The legacy of slavery is not only seen in economic inequality. It is also seen in how history has been told. For too long, African stories have been told by others, often in ways that ignore the voices of those who suffered.
This is why storytelling matters.
As the well-known proverb says, “Until the lions learn to write, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” It is time for African voices to tell their own stories, truthfully, proudly, and without distortion.
At Freedom Park, this is part of our mission. We create spaces where history is remembered with dignity, where stories are preserved, and where people can reflect on the past while thinking about the future. Memory, for us, is not just about looking back, it is about shaping what comes next.
The United Nations has also called on countries to take stronger action. This includes fighting racism, improving access to education and economic opportunities, and ensuring that people of African descent can fully realise their rights and potential.
But governments cannot do this alone.
Each of us has a role to play.
We must challenge racism wherever we see it, whether in our communities, our workplaces, or even within ourselves. We must educate ourselves and others about the true history of slavery and its impact. And we must support efforts that promote fairness, dignity, and equality for all people.
This day of remembrance is not only about honouring those who suffered. It is also about honouring their resilience. Despite unimaginable hardship, enslaved Africans resisted, survived, and fought for their freedom. Their strength and courage should inspire us to continue the work they began.
As António Guterres reminded us, “the world we seek, rooted in freedom, equality, and justice, is within reach.” But it will not happen on its own.
It requires commitment. It requires honesty. And it requires action.
So, as we mark this important day, let us do more than remember.
Let us reflect on the past but also take responsibility for the present. Let us listen to the voices that were silenced, and ensure they are heard. And most importantly, let us work together to build a future where dignity, equality, and justice are not ideals, but realities.
Because the true meaning of remembrance is not found in words alone.
It is found in what we choose to do next.
