Organisers of the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebration are intensifying calls for reparative justice for Africa, urging the global community to acknowledge and atone for the historical injustices of the transatlantic slave trade.
Speaking at the launch event in Accra, Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, said the continent’s repeated appeals for justice and restitution have long been ignored. He insisted that this year’s celebration theme, “Let us speak of reparative justice: Pan-African artistic activism,” was not only timely but urgent.
“This theme serves as a direct reminder to the world, especially those who have chosen to forget, that the legacy of slavery cannot be erased without redress,” he said. “Reparative justice is long overdue, and it must include meaningful apologies and concrete action.”
Osabarima Kwesi Attah further emphasized the role of African artists in keeping the memory and demands for justice alive. He described them as central figures in shaping cultural identity and resistance, whose work amplifies the pain, resilience, and aspirations of African people.
Professor Kojo Yankah, founder of the Pan African Heritage Museum and a key voice at the launch, echoed the need for a renewed narrative around African identity and history. He stressed that reparative justice must be central to Africa’s modern awakening and must not be relegated to symbolism or rhetoric.
“The story of Africa must begin from our greatness—not just slavery,” he asserted. “We must tell of our civilizations, our contributions to knowledge, and our resistance, not just our oppression.”
Prof. Yankah challenged African educational systems to do more in teaching authentic African history. He called on the Ministry of Education to make African history a core, compulsory subject in schools to foster identity, pride, and purpose among future generations.
The organisers expressed hope that the 2025 celebration would not only unite Africans across the globe but also push the conversation on reparative justice into firmer political and diplomatic territory. They called for stronger government backing to make the event impactful and transformative.
As preparations for PANAFEST 2025 gain momentum, organisers say this year’s celebration must go beyond cultural showcases—it must provoke reflection, amplify African voices, and demand global accountability for centuries of injustice.
