University College, London, in collaboration with the University of Ibadan (UI), is set to organise an exhibition titled “Nigerian Voices Against Slavery” at the National Museum in Lagos State.
The exhibition, part of a research programme, will be accompanied by workshops held at the museum and a lecture series in collaboration with select Nigerian universities.
According to the organisers, an exhibition titled “Local Voices Against Slavery” will open on July 8, 2024, featuring displays of Nigerian figures who have fought against slavery.
The exhibition will trace the history of resistance to slavery from historical victims who became abolitionists, such as Olaudah Equiano and Nicholas Said, to early missionaries like Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and James Johnson.
It will also showcase early movements like the Lagos Auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, which opposed the colonial government’s pro-slavery laws, the Osu Abolition Movement, and political figures such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and Obafemi Awolowo. The exhibition will continue to include modern anti-slavery activists.
The event, which is expected to run from July 8 to August 10, will include free workshops for students, teachers, and community stakeholders. These workshops will feature Nigerian historians, archivists, and academics from University College London.
The research project on which the exhibition is based, titled “African Abolitionism: The Rise and Transformations of Anti-Slavery in Africa,” aims to study local abolitionist movements on the continent. The conventional narrative about the abolition of slavery in Africa is largely centred on European efforts.
The organisers say the research project, the first of its kind, is dedicated to studying local abolitionism across different regions of Africa.
The project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 885418). Starting on July 8, the research outcomes are expected to be showcased at the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos over five weeks.
Dr. Michael Odijie of University College London revealed, “In the past, the praiseworthy deeds of Africans were silenced while the reprehensible acts were highlighted. Consequently, we learn about African slavers rather than the abolitionists. However, looking back, we find many equivalents to Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce in Nigerian history. This exhibition showcases some of these figures.
“We hope this event will enhance historical and contemporary awareness, provide insight into how different Nigerian cultures and communities addressed issues of slavery, honour the efforts of Nigerian abolitionists, serve as a valuable resource for students, foster a sense of pride and national identity by highlighting the contributions of Nigerian leaders and communities in shaping the country’s history, encourage dialogue, and inspire future activism.”