Benin marked the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (Jistna) on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in the historic city of Ouidah.
The UNESCO-backed commemoration took place at the foot of the Gate of No Return, a powerful symbol where millions of men, women, and children were forcibly taken from their homeland for the transatlantic journey.
Under the theme “Memory, resilience and future: honoring the victims, building for tomorrow,” the 2025 edition brought together government officials, researchers, cultural actors, and members of the diaspora to reflect on the legacies of slavery and the pathways toward reconciliation.
The ceremony opened with a moment of reflection, followed by an inaugural conference titled “182 years after the Clotilda: memory and cultural survivals of Benin and Africa in Africatown.”
The first panel explored the lived memories of deportees through recent research, while the second session, “Memory Days & Benin Homecoming,” examined Benin’s pivotal role in reconnecting the continent with its diaspora. Midday citizen debates fostered open dialogue among participants, followed by cultural presentations that celebrated African heritage.
The afternoon continued with a second lecture-debate, culminating in a silent march, a release of doves, and a chain of unity that closed the event in dignity and hope. “Memory is not only a moral requirement, it is a political and cultural seed,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean-Michel Abimbola, stressing the transformative power of historical remembrance.
President Patrice Talon, quoted by the minister, added: “Materializing the horror of the slave trade will make everyone, generation after generation, a witness to human cruelty, but also the guardian of human values.”
Through Jistna, celebrated every August 23, Benin reaffirms its role as a centre of universal memory. The event serves as a bridge between past and future, the continent and its diaspora, transforming the trauma of history into resilience and shared hope. By fostering reflection, dialogue, and cultural celebration, Jistna 2025 underscores the enduring importance of remembrance in building a united and forward-looking Africa.
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