August 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
On this beautiful day, Asso Des Femmes Nyansapo joins the world in remembering the numbers of African men, promising women, and innocent children who endured unimaginable suffering during the transatlantic/Triangular slave trade. From the 16th century until its abolition in the early 19th century, countless lives were uprooted, families separated, and cultures disrupted.
The trade was officially abolished with the British Abolition Act of 1807, under the reign of King George III (Anstey, 1975; Slave Trade Act 1807, n.d.), after years of powerful advocacy from voices like Olaudah Equiano, William Wilberforce, who also campaigned in Parliament (Drescher, 2009), and Harriet Tubman, whose later on activism in the United States represented the enduring global fight against slavery (Larson, 2004). Their courage and persistence paved the way for freedom and human dignity.
As Asso Des Femmes Nyansapo, we say sorry to those who suffered slavery and its generational scars. Today, we honour their resilience, memory, and fight for justice while reaffirming our commitment to a world where equality, dignity, and human rights remain non-negotiable.
REFERENCES
Anstey, R. (1975). The Slave Trade of the Continental Powers 1760–1810. Macmillan.
Drescher, S. (2009). Abolition: A history of slavery and antislavery. Cambridge University Press.
Equiano, O. (2003). The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano (R. J. M. Blackett, Ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. (Original work published 1789)
Slave Trade Act 1807. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Trade_Act_1807
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