The coastal city of Limbe, home to the historic Bimbia slave port, will be the epicentre of international reflection and cultural exchange this August, as Cameroon joins the world in marking the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition.
Under the patronage of Cameroon’s Minister of Arts and Culture, the commemoration organised by Gilgal Tours in collaboration with the Ministry of Arts and Culture will run from August 22 to 23, 2025, at the Erica Ballroom and Conference Hall of the Gilgal Towers Hotel. This year’s theme, “Memory, Healing, and Reconnection,” underscores the continuing call to confront historical injustices and build bridges across continents.
A Historical and Global Commemoration
The International Day, first observed in Haiti in 1998 and later on Gorée Island in Senegal in 1999, recalls the night of August 22–23, 1791, when enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) rose up in a revolt that ignited a movement leading to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has described the commemoration as “an opportunity to abolish human exploitation once and for all, and to recognize the equal and unconditional dignity of each individual.”
For Limbe, a city deeply tied to the history of slavery through Bimbia, a slave embarkation site where captives were shipped across the Atlantic, the observance is particularly poignant.
Distinguished Guests and Key Voices
The two-day event will draw an array of personalities, including administrative and municipal authorities, traditional rulers, university scholars, Pan-Africanists, community leaders, Cameroonian-Americans, and UNESCO representatives.
Highlights of the program include keynote addresses by experts and researchers who will spotlight how the Transatlantic Slave Trade happened in Cameroon: from the Slave Markets in the hinterlands through slave routes, to slave ports. Messages of solidarity from African diasporas in the United States and the Caribbean are also expected.
Cultural, Academic, and Diaspora Dialogue
Day One will feature a symposium on “Revisiting Slave Trade: Memory, Trauma & Identity,” with presentations from Cameroonian and international scholars. Discussions will explore the historical role of Bimbia, its hinterland trade routes, and the impact of abolition treaties.
The program also includes a book launch, an art and photography exhibition, a theatre performance, and a site visit to Bimbia. The evening will conclude with a gala dinner and cultural showcase.
Day Two, dubbed “Diaspora Day,” will emphasize global reconnection through messages from UNESCO and the United Nations Secretary-General, a fireside conversation themed “Hollywood Meets Heritage,” and a Diaspora Dialogue Forum featuring African-American and Afro-Caribbean voices. The closing ceremony will include an award presentation honouring advocates of remembrance and a cultural evening with traditional dances and music.
Bimbia: From Painful Past to Global Heritage
Bimbia’s historical significance lies in its role as one of West Africa’s slave ports, where thousands of Africans were shipped to the Americas. On February 17, 1844, King William I of Bimbia and local chiefs signed a treaty with British authorities officially prohibiting the trade.
Today, scholars and cultural activists are working to preserve the site and promote it as a hub for heritage tourism and reconciliation.
By launching the commemoration of this UNESCO event this year, organizers hope to position Cameroon as a Central African landmark in the African heritage, tourism, linking Africa with its diaspora through storytelling, scholarship, and cultural solidarity.
A Call to Unity
“The transatlantic slave trade is an indelible stain on the conscience of humanity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said. This year’s commemoration in Cameroon echoes that reminder, transforming memory into a platform for healing and reconnection.
As the world turns its gaze toward Limbe this August, the event promises not only to honour the victims and heroes of the past but also to inspire present and future generations to build a just and inclusive global society.
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