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29.10.2015 - UNESCO Office in Dakar

Cabo Verde hosts the International Scientific Committee of the UNESCO’s Slave Route Project

O Pelourinho, built in 1520 and symbol of the slave trade in Cidade Velha, was the scenario of public punishment for rebellious slaves ©UNESCO/V. Fanjul Marlé

UNESCO’s Slave Route project was launched to break the silence about slave trade and slavery is advised by a Committee of experts. This Committee, whose members represent different disciplines (history, anthropology, archeology…) and world regions, proposes approaches to develop educational programs and materials, deepens the scientific research about slave trade and slavery and opens doors to new partnerships.

First meeting of the International Decade for People of African Descent

With a renewed membership, the International Scientific Committee has met in Praia, from 26 to 29 October 2015. Ali Moussa-lye, Chief of Section “History and Memory for Dialogue“ of UNESCO and Slave Route project coordinator says that “this meeting is particularly important as it is the first one devoted to this topic within the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) and is hosted in Cabo Verde which has a singular history and was a laboratory for building the first slavery societies” He adds: “On this meeting, new members are going to integrate the International Scientific Committee especially a Cabo Verdian expert, specialized in the cultural heritage related to slavery”.

This meeting will be the occasion to present and discuss project activities, notably the publication of a Guide to promote and manage ‘Routes of Memory’ itineraries linked to the slave trade and slavery, a repertory of managers of Sites of Memory, a Network of researchers on slave trade and slavery in Mediterranean, Red Sea and Middle East, as well as the new label “Sites of Memory associated with the project Slave Route project". Other priority activities to implement in 2016 and 2017, the creation of a “Group of Friends of the Slave Route project”, the mobilization of funds and partners, are other items to be discussed by the Committee.

Actions by Cabo Verde

In the framework of the meeting, which has been organized in partnership with the UNESCO National Commission, other events are organized to give space and visibility to the role and history of slavery in Cabo Verdian society, namely movies projections, traveling exhibitions (“Africans in Portugal, History and memory of the XV-XX centuries”), artistic performances and Book Fair dedicated to Slavery. In addition, Committee members are going to participate on 28th November in a seminar organized at the Cabo Verde University on the Challenges of the scientific research on slavery and issues of the international Decade for people of African descent (2015-2024)”.

Antonio Correia e Silva, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and President of the UNESCO National Commission says “the Committee meeting and side-events will offer a new and stimulant scientific and social environment to develop research and education programs promoting and disseminating this topic and the history of Cidade Velha, which still very poorly known”.

For further information

Project activities are available on: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/dialogue/the-slave-route/spotlight/preservation-of-memorial-sites-and-places/wh-properties-directly-linked-to-slavery/




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