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Damola Durosomo
Nov. 28, 2017 12:11PM EST

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.

From Nnedi Okorafor to Davido to Jesse Williams and more, here's what celebrities are saying about the crisis on social media:


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.

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.

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How Relocating to Ghana Helped Reinvigorate Jewelry Designer Aisha Asamany's Work

Moving to Ghana gave Aisha Asamany's luxury jewelry brand, inspired by Adinkra symbols that traditionally project strength, fearlessness, love and power, renewed verve to tell personal stories of her growing clientele.

In 2019, the government of Ghana made a global splash with its Year of Return initiative – the campaign sought to encourage the African diaspora to return home to the continent, specifically to Ghana.

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Wizkid, Tems, Black Coffee & More Nominated For 2022 Grammy Awards

See the full list of African artists honored during Tuesday's nomination ceremony.

Next year's Grammy nominations are in and Africa showed up and out!

The 64th annual Grammy music awards are on the horizon, and Tuesday's nomination ceremony covered a lot of ground within the music industry. Not surprisingly, Wizkid's Made In Lagos (Deluxe) received a nod for Best Global Music album, with the stellar and globally adorned track "Essence" featuring Nigeria's Tems being nominated for Best Global Music Performance. Nigerian favorites Femi and Made Kuti's joint project Legacy+ received a nomination under the Best Global Music Album category.

Other notable nods include; Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo's collaboration with Nigerian powerhouse Burna Boy, as well her performance with American cellist Yo-Yo Ma received under the Global Music Performance category. South Africa's Black Coffee's album Subconsciously made its mark within the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album category with his own nomination, and Ghanaian artist Rocky Dawuni under Best Global Music Album.

The music ceremony will be hosted in Los Angeles, US on January 31 2022 and we're excited to see who snags the highly coveted awards during next year's ceremony. In the meantime, let us know on Twitter who you're excited to see perform.

Keep scrolling to see the full list of African artists nominated for next year's Grammy award ceremony.

Check out the full list of nominees here.

Best Global Music Performance

"Mohabbat," Arooj Aftab

"Do Yourself," Angelique Kidjo and Burna Boy

"Pà Pá Pà," Femi Kuti

"Blewu," Yo-Yo Ma and Angelique Kidjo

"Essence," Wizkid featuring Tems

Best Global Music Album

"Voice Of Bunbon, Vol. 1," Rocky Dawuni

"East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho and Friends Live in Concert," Daniel Ho and Friends

"Mother Nature," Angelique Kidjo

"Legacy +," Femi Kuti and Made Kuti

"Made In Lagos: Deluxe Edition," Wizkid

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

"Subconsciously," Black Coffee

"Fallen Embers," Illenium

"Music Is the Weapon (Reloaded)," Major Lazer

"Shockwave," Marshmello

"Free Love," Sylvan Esso

"Judgement," Ten City
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The origins of surfing are commonly associated with Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, but historians, like University of California history professor, Kevin Dawson, have collated documented evidence of the independent history of African wave-riding from as early as the 1640s.

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