Speech By H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY
Vice-Chancellor of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London;
The Right Honourable Mrs Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for African Reparations and Special Envoy for UK-Ghana Relations;
The Right Honourable Diane Abbot MP;
Excellencies, Ambassadors of African and Caribbean countries accredited to the United Kingdom present here today;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Academic Community;
Ladies and gentlemen, panellists;
Ladies and Gentlemen of the African Diaspora,
Ladies and gentlemen of African descent;
Distinguished Members of Civil Society Organisations;
Ladies and Gentlemen from the Media and Culture;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Students;
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with deference and a spirit of historical responsibility that I take the floor in these places so steeped of history to, firstly, express my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Zeinab Badawi, President of SOAS University, for the facilities granted which allowed the perfect organization of this conference, then to bow before the memory of our illustrious predecessors and finally, to congratulate the young and old who are here present for keeping the flame of Pan-Africanism alive.
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is not my custom to adhere to the often-symbolic ritual of commemorations. But to shirk this ritual, which takes the form of a duty to remember the event that took place here from July 23 to 25, 1900, would be to diminish the significance of the commitment of the pioneers of Pan-Africanism, as well as the importance of their sacrifices and struggles for the dignity of Africans and Afrodescendants.
Indeed, 125 years ago, visionary figures gathered here in London to deliberate on the future of Africa and its peoples, scattered across the globe by the fate of history. Their vision was clear: to unite African peoples to oppose the exacerbated racism, exclusion, and oppression suffered by Africans and people of African descent.
These pioneers of Pan-Africanism paved the way, risking their lives and their freedom, to leave us a legacy and a clear path toward the triumph of ideals and values that retain meaning and relevance for the struggle we still wage today in the name of Africa. London reminds us of the strength of our historical ties, our ability to win great battles when we are united, and the imperative to continue, despite obstacles and dangers, the struggle for justice and equity for the peoples of Africa and its diaspora.
Since 1900, a long and arduous road has been traveled, marked by challenges, sacrifices, and resilience. Some milestone victories have been achieved. But the decisive victory over the historical injustice remains to be won. Indeed, we can’t be satisfied with the apparent end of slavery and colonization as the final stage of our struggle.
Slavery, deportation, and colonization should never have occurred in human history. And since they did, history must be reconstructed, restored, rehabilitated, and repaired. Grave and appalling crimes were committed during the long centuries of slavery and colonialism, and silence can’t be the only response to the unspeakable, to crime and ignominy.
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Over the decades, Pan-African Congresses have succeeded one another and have continued to constantly reiterate the legitimate demands of African peoples for greater justice and equity. From Paris in 1919 to Accra in 1958, via Dar es Salaam in 1974, each gathering has strengthened the determination of African peoples to demand an end to historical injustices.
Thus, under the leadership of William E. B. Du Bois, the first Pan-African Congress called for the end of colonial rule and institutional racism and demanded better living conditions for Africans and Afrodescendants. At the 1921, 1923, and 1927 Congresses, demands were primarily oriented toward gradual transition and self-governance. At the 1945 Manchester Congress, a decisive turning point was recorded with the direct call for decolonization and the right of African peoples to self-determination. This solemn call contributed to the wave of decolonization of the 1950s and 1960s, followed by the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. The 1974 Dar-es-Salaam Congress contributed in its own way to strengthening ties between independent African states and the diaspora.
But these few historic advances have not unblocked the path to reparations, which has remained obstructed by the unjustified desire of certain countries to silence any debate on the issue, or worse, to prevent any dialogue on the subject.
The Kampala Congresses in 1994 and Johannesburg in 2014, however, brought the issue of reparations for slavery and colonization to the forefront. But these concerns were dismissed as African monologues by those to whom they were addressed.
It has become clear to us that the will to acknowledge and repair the wrongs of the past has left the camp of our protagonists. Some countries that practiced slavery and colonization have chosen to wipe their feet and hands, still covered by the blood and sweat of the sons and daughters of Africa, with the rag of oblivion and contempt.
It should also be clear to them that neither time nor contempt will overcome our determination to obtain reparation. Our pain is acute; our expectation is unwavering and unalterable. As long as these wounds of history remain unhealed, our thirst for justice will not be quenched.
Time is no one’s ally in this matter. It is in everyone’s interest to work together to prevent this debt to the African peoples from being passed on to future generations.
For its part, my country, Togo, is resolutely committed to working towards reparation and reconciliation with the past and for the advent of a better world. We are deeply convinced that humanity and equity are indivisible, and the future of relations between our peoples can only be consolidated based on truth and justice.
Thus, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Republic of Togo, we proposed and obtained the approval of the African Union (AU), our continental organization, for the 2021-2031 Decade to be declared “Decade of African Roots and the African Diaspora”. The AU subsequently mandated the Republic of Togo to organize the 9th Pan-African Congress during the last half of this year 2025.
Preceding the AU, which chose as theme for 2025: “Justice for Africans and people of Africa descent through reparations”, my country initiated the historic decision taken unanimously by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, on February 16, to qualify slavery, deportation and colonization as crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide against the African peoples.
These bold initiatives and projects are a prelude to the battles to come to ensure that our descendants will not experience the same humiliations, torments, and contempt that our ancestors experienced and that we continue to experience in other forms. But these battles can only be won if we are strong, united, and determined.
As our illustrious predecessor George Padmore said, “Africa must speak with one voice”. There are no African peoples. There is only one African people, wherever they live and whatever their nationality. Our African identity, and I would add our pan-African identity, must be the foundation of our relationships and the driving force behind our unwavering determination.
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is undergoing profound and unprecedented changes. It is time to settle the remnants of the past. It is the right time to engage in dialogue, without rancor or hatred, on how to reconcile with the past.
The theme of today’s meeting, “The London Conference, 125 Years Later: Pan-Africanism and a Dialogue on Reparations”, is more than evocative. Indeed, in my view, this is the time to initiate a genuine, sincere, and respectful dialogue on these crimes committed against the peoples of Africa and on the best way to redress them.
The past has set us against each other; the present allows us to coexist. Let us choose this historic moment to prepare for a future where we will live in harmony and peace. Dialogue, I remain convinced, remains the only tool capable of enabling us to build this future, reconciled with the past.
I therefore call on our Western partners to abandon their denial and contempt and finally begin discussions on this demand for reparations, so dear to our peoples and countries.
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Whether in North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, or elsewhere, the issue of reparations is today at the heart of the demands of dispossessed, enslaved, deported, or colonized peoples.
Apologies and regret do not repair the wrong. The time has come to move from rhetoric to concrete actions of reparation and rehabilitation. Slavery, deportation, and colonization are not mere chapters in history books. They constitute crimes against humanity and genocides that must be recognized and remedied.
The dialogue we are calling for will not happen without mobilization and determination. As you known, no one is harder to convince than someone who has decided in advance not to succumb to the logic of an argument. We must be imaginative and resilient in this fight. Each of our meetings must be an opportunity to recharge our batteries and, above all, to make concrete progress in implementing our agenda.
London today represents the renewal of our unwavering commitment. Lomé tomorrow will be the occasion for concrete resolutions.
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The 9th Pan-African Congress, which will be held next December in Lomé, Togo, on the theme: “Renewal of Pan-Africanism and Africa’s role in the reform of multilateral institutions: mobilizing resources and reinventing itself to act “, must be an opportunity to move forward on the reparations agenda and on the place of our States in global governance.
As Cheikh Anta Diop said, true reparation for colonialism does not come down to financial compensation, but requires the restoration of African sovereignty, the decolonization of minds and the cultural and scientific renaissance of the continent.
I wish to assure you that Togo, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, who has always championed a renewed approach to interstate relations based on respect, dialogue, and cooperation between nations, will make this major historical event an opportunity to reaffirm our sovereignty and dignity as upright and proud peoples. It will also be an opportunity to discuss realistic, pragmatic, and concrete approaches to adopt to make decisive progress on our agenda.
I Thank you !