Revisiting Diasporic Culture and Memories across Oceans II
The Future of Remembering Slavery in the Indian Ocean: Forgetting and Reviving in Zanzibar and the Island of Mozambique
Thursday, June 12, 2025
14:00 - 15:45 GMT
Location: MNB - Réunion 2
Presenter(s)
LS
Livio Sansone
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil
Paper Abstract: Memorizing slavery is not a normal or natural phenomenon, it is quite the opposite. This is particularly evident on the Indian coast of Africa. Enslavement is often cited as part of the demand for social justice or reparation, but it is generally not displayed spectacularly, especially when social relations are still shaped by extreme and long-lasting inequalities rooted in slavery. In this text, we briefly describe how UNESCO developed two important projects, directly or indirectly related to the patrimonialization of the memory of transoceanic slavery, the General History of Africa and the Slave Route program. Although there are obviously universal intentions on UNESCO's part, these are projects strongly engendered by the Atlantic context or norm that do little to negotiate with the different local demands and obstacles and with the new agendas that are emerging around the memory of slavery. We will then highlight the challenges of preserving the memory associated with slavery in two important places in the history of transoceanic slavery, the islands of Zanzibar and Mozambique. A more universal perspective on slavery and captivity, and their aftermath for contemporary extreme and durable inequalities, can be enriched by bringing Asia and especially the Indian Ocean better in the picture in transoceanic studies.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)