Slavery Remembrance Day

SLAVERY REMEMBRANCE DAY 23 AUGUST 2006 LIVERPOOL

On the 23rd August 2006 I was invited to attend Slavery Remembrance Day Celebrations in Liverpool. The commemorative event was held at Otterspool Promenade and from lunchtime there was traditional African and Caribbean food and lots of activities for children which included arts & crafts such as the making of colourful masks and the playing of musical instruments all this took place in the Otterspool Marquee and splendid it was. There was also the opportunity to explore artefacts and literature from the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The opening of the International Slavery Museum at Albert Dock in 2007 was widely publicised.

After refreshments the Libation and Invocation Ceremony took place; the ceremony was lead by Chief Angus Chukuemeka Chair of the Libation Committee. This traditional African ceremony calls on the ancestors to bless the event. The offering of libation involves the pouring of liquid, which can be water or wine, in a special pattern while homage is paid to the ancestors.

He made his address at the Mersey Waterfront in the presence of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Liverpool and other dignitaries everyone in the audience was invited to take part. The Libation ceremony did not and should not exclude anyone. The African traditional ceremony called Libation symbolises African Values of remembering and honouring our ancestors, elders and leaders including community and civic leaders. There was an acknowledgement of all dignitaries present followed by the observation of a minute’s silence in memory of “ The Souls of our departed Brother and Sisters” there was sombre in the air as we bowed our heads and observed the silence waves ebbing in the back ground.

Mention was made of the importance of the day in commemorating the lives and deaths of millions of enslaved Africans and their descendants who were central to the rise of Britain as an Industrial Power.

There was also a reminder that Slavery created unequal relationships between Africans and Europeans and much racism. One cannot forget that most recently in Liverpool there was the brutal killing of the talented teenager Anthony Walker another life pointlessly wasted.

A symbolic drink was given to the dignitaries and the Chief began an invocation and drink was poured at every stage of the invocation. At the end the Chief and dignitaries consumed the remainder of the drinks. The Chief poured drink and kola-nuts into the river as a symbolic gesture. The remaining kola nuts were shared with the audience marking the end of the Libation Ceremony.
It was pointed out to me that the sharing brings us closer to our ancestors. It is also a symbol of unity and harmony with us, our ancestors and with God
The ceremony was followed by speeches and performances which included singing, poetry and dancing an enjoyable time was had by all.

So Why Liverpool?

Slave ships were often built or repaired in Liverpool nearly one and a half million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic in Liverpool ships. The Merseyside Maritime Museum has an award winning Transatlantic Slavery gallery telling the story of the slave trade and slavery. The gallery will be developed into a new International Slavery Museum in 2007 and I encourage you to take a visit.

2007 is the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave Trade and the anniversary of the outbreak of the slave rebellion to find out more on how to visit the International Slavery Museum go to: www.internationalslaverymuseums.org.uk

The importance of the Liverpool Waterfront
The precise reasons for Liverpool's dominance of the trade are still debated by historians. Some suggest that Liverpool merchants were being pushed out of the other Atlantic trades, such as sugar and tobacco. Others claim that the town's merchants were more enterprising. A significant factor was the port's position with ready access via a network of rivers and canals to the goods traded in Africa - textiles from Lancashire and Yorkshire, copper and brass from Staffordshire and Cheshire and guns from Birmingham.

Bev Mitchell