Davido, Nnedi Okorafor, Chadwick Boseman and More Speak Out Against Slave Trade In Libya
Artists, activists, governments and more have condemned the slave trade taking place in Libya.
A stream of public figures continue to speak out against the slave trade in Libya. Several more have taken to social media to decry the events and share suggestions on how to help.
Nigeria's President Buhari and Ghana's President Akufo-Addo have both expressed anger over the situation in Libya, with Buhari vowing to bring stranded Nigerians home.
The current slave auctions of Africans in Libya are not only gross and scandalous abuses of human rights, but are a… https://t.co/ti0VuutViS— Nana Akufo-Addo (@Nana Akufo-Addo)1511900237.0
From Nnedi Okorafor to Davido to Jesse Williams and more, here's what celebrities are saying about the crisis on social media:
What a wicked world we live in!! We need to come together to fix this 💔💔 https://t.co/aouDdKkKUJ— Davido (@Davido)1511904986.0
The slave trade that is going on in Libya has to STOP NOW. Speak up and speak out. We CANNOT be silent!— Diddy (@Diddy)1511961530.0
A book recommendation for those who think the African slavery currently happening in Libya is an isolated thing:… https://t.co/LQCPzijZ2U— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi Okorafor, PhD)1511976025.0
Slavery in this day and age is unacceptable. Imagine if it was you, your opportunities, dignity and future were fo… https://t.co/mTDxyOWcSh— Chadwick Boseman (@Chadwick Boseman)1511982654.0
2/2 #Libya "It’s quite evident that the aid is in fact not coming from the West to Africa, but from Africa to the W… https://t.co/3nLpmra30h— jesse Williams. (@jesse Williams.)1511980389.0
Absolutely horrified by what is happening in Libya...How can human beings treat each other this way?PLEASE sign the… https://t.co/Oyck62SNAY— Patricia Bright (@Patricia Bright)1511969075.0
Praying for the people suffering & enslaved in Libya... 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 SIGN THIS PETITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. This MUST S… https://t.co/P0iTYEy7kI— PEARL THUSI (@PEARL THUSI)1511980046.0
Slavery in Libya? So sickening that something like this still happens. If it wasn't for social media, we would not… https://t.co/5NFXjw5cpg— Deji (@Deji)1511962585.0
This is the world in 2017 😐💔 https://t.co/x97CKnZzgk— Maleek Berry (@Maleek Berry)1511940515.0
Been silent on Libya as l read up to grasp what’s going on, what’s actually causing this and how l can make a real… https://t.co/nYj7PvKlMb— William Adoasi (@William Adoasi)1511946610.0
Continue for yesterday's story:
Last week, a harrowing video surfaced via CNN of a slave auction taking place in Libya. The footage showed migrants—and foremost, human beings—from Sub-Sharan Africa being sold as farmworkers, reportedly for as little as $400.
The unfathomable story has gained global attention in the days since, with activists, sport stars, entertainers, the United Nations, and national governments condemning the inhumane act, and attempting to offer help in their own ways. Still, folks are calling for more media coverage of the situation, and rightfully so.
Africans are being sold as slaves in Libya for $400 each right now. The world is silent. Africa is silent. AU is si… https://t.co/Hwern9lxmH— Man's Not Barry Roux (@Man's Not Barry Roux)1510992579.0
Libya has functional slave markets, where captured black migrants are referred to as "merchandises" and auctioned o… https://t.co/dlEK6fKzm1— Africa Facts Zone (@Africa Facts Zone)1511118286.0
The shocking story led to protests in Paris, and a social media movement around the hashtag #LibyansAgainstSlavery.
The Libyan government has reportedly launched an investigation into the video, but have called on more support from the international community in order to thoroughly tackle the issue, reports the Independent.
Last week, the Rwandan government released a statement, extending an open door to African refugees enslaved in Libya.
The statement reads:
"Rwanda, like the rest of the world, was horrified by the images of the tragedy currently unfolding in Libya, where African men, women and children who were on the road to exile, have been held and turned into slaves. Given Rwanda's political philosophy and our own history, we cannot remain silent when human beings are being mistreated and auctioned off like cattle.
The Government and people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with our African brothers and sisters still held in captivity. Rwanda may not be able to welcome everyone but our door is wide open. We are ready to work closely with the African Union, the private sector, as well as other friends and partners to ensure that we can provide minimum comfort to those in need."
A wave of celebrities have also decried the events taking place in Libya. Artists like Pantoranking, Michael Dapaah, Pharrell, T.I. and more shared their thoughts on Twitter.
African Leaders can’t you see what’s going on in Libya...Why is Libya not making the world headlines on CNN,BBC and the rest? Oh God— PATORANKING (@PATORANKING)1511858642.0
I love how everyone is coming together for what's going on in Libya. Let's continue to shine light on it till this stops enough is enough !— Michael Dapaah (@Michael Dapaah)1511884692.0
So... I'm wondering if Khadafi was such a horrible dictator why wasn't this happening when HE WAS in power? One has… https://t.co/3PZCxcIweV— T.I. (@T.I.)1511843073.0
This is PURE EVIL!!!!! I'm LIVID!!!! Satin is BUSY as a muuufucka. Spiritual Warfare in full effect.What side u on?… https://t.co/swkjRVb8JN— T.I. (@T.I.)1511843246.0
Appalling. https://t.co/Ma23rheOiD— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell Williams)1511855303.0
When terrorists attacked Charlie Hebdo in Paris some African heads of state flew there to attend their freedom walk… https://t.co/sshI9cW2HY— Farida Nabourema (@Farida Nabourema)1511809148.0
Remember.... Black Africans are being sold in open-air slave markets in #Libya. 😢 https://t.co/GOpFdo4zcx— Oluwashina Okeleji (@Oluwashina Okeleji)1511855289.0
good morning. Black people are being sold as slaves in Libya.— spread love (@spread love)1511875765.0
