In Africa, the effects of slavery and slave trade are still alive and there is no doubt in their historical importance and weight in the relationships between the various components of African societies in general, and in particular, the process of building nation-states. Legacies of Slavery are numerous, diverse, sometimes painful and extremely sensitive.

Important efforts have been made in African research, primarily in the study of the Atlantic slave trade, but also to some degree, the Indian Ocean islands shaped by plantation labour. However, while the voices of memory are strong in countries such as Senegal and Benin, they are just emerging in East Africa today.

The question of slavery in history, its legacies and presence in African societies are at the heart of this conference which is expected to contribute to its entry into the domain of recent public debates.

Click to enlarge the poster of the conference.