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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Oct 2009 : 18:33:08
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Africa Human Rights Day to be Observed
By Amie Sanneh
Each year, 21st October is observed as Africa Human Rights Day. It is the day when Africa celebrates human rights on the continent in a variety of ways. The day was set aside by the African Union to commemorate the entry into force of the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Hence, Africa commemorates these historic ongoing efforts worldwide to promote human rights.
In the Gambia, the African Commission will be commemorating this day with a series of planned activities, in collaboration with the Gambia National Sports Council, the National Council for Civic Education, the University of The Gambia, NGOs, and CSOs.
Events to mark the day will include amongst others, a televised quiz, march pass for the public, a soccer tournament for Gambians Secondary Schools, Human Rights Dance Drama. The dance drama is written and directed by Feyi Ogunade and will be performed by the Kunta Kinteh Cultural Group. The African Commission, through these activities and events aims to disseminate and share information on the rights enshrined in the African Charter and the functions and activities of the Commission.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Human Rights Education — a Right for All”
The drama, Chains of Blood, can be summed as follows:
From the middle of the 15th century, hundreds of thousands of Africans were being taken by force and pressed into slavery in Europe and the Americas. Millions were being dragged from their homes, torn from their loved ones, chained, whipped, branded, sold like animals, and forced to work without pay until the day they died.
But really, who enslaved who? In truth, when the slave traders came to Africa, many of them anchored their boats on the shores and waited. Some times they did not even get down their boats. They just waited. And there snaking in the horizon was a long ant like line of tired, sweating, bleeding, black bodies - women, men and children - all in chains. Sold for precious commodities like a looking mirror, whigs, guns and gun powder, not to mention the captivating blend of the finest Scottish whiskey!
But did the slavery of Africans end with the abolition of the slave trade?
History now agrees that Africans were put in bondage by Africans. Without absolving the iniquity of those slave nations and their traders, Africans enslaved Africans. Africans chained Africans. And still in many places, in 21st century Africa, Africans are in chains!
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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