Legacies of Slavery in Niger 2: Mobilising Memory, Heritage, and Politics to End Abuse (LESLAN 2)
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: History
Abstract
LESLAN 2 builds on LESLAN 1's achievements to deliver significant political, social and cultural impacts. It supports Timidria, Niger's main anti-slavery NGO, in its efforts to improve the circumstances of persons of slave descent in the Republic of Niger and the Sahara-Sahel sub-region. Numerous reports highlight the continuing existence in this area of descent-based slavery, discrimination against formerly enslaved persons and their descendants, and forms of sexual slavery (such as the wahaya practice) that account for ongoing trafficking in women and girls. This situation has complex causes and consequences, which LESLAN 1 (the first stage of this collaboration, which took place from October 2018 to January 2020) contributed to unveil by conducting research in all of Niger's regions and collecting about 200 testimonies by members of affected groups. LESLAN 1 also started to undermine enduring hierarchical ideologies that stigmatise slave descendants and consider slave ownership a sign of honour.
In this second stage, called LESLAN 2, research and data-collection activities are replaced by emphasis on the operationalisation of earlier findings with the aim of achieving a profound and lasting impact on society and politics. Research-related activities are limited to the participatory analysis and interpretation of previously collected evidence for the purpose of developing strategies and practices aimed at reducing descent-based slavery and its legacies. The objectives and methods of LESLAN 2 have been co-designed by the team of LESLAN 1 on the basis of initial results, unexpected developments, and consultation with grassroots participants. In LESLAN 2 Timidria plays a leading role in the management and implementation of all activities. Drawing from insights and best practices learned in LESLAN 1, it engages relevant governmental institutions, other sub-regional NGOs, artists and creative professionals, representatives of affected communities, and the wider public in a programme of collaborative action aimed at changing slavery-related policy and practice in the sub-region. Activities include a series of focused meetings with different stakeholders, the development of user-oriented, openly accessible publications co-designed and co-authored with West African abolitionist organisations and survivors of slavery, and an art-based campaign aimed at gaining public support for anti-slavery stances and policies.
Through consultations, publications, advocacy, public engagement and art-based outreach LESLAN 2 contributes to hampering slavery, supporting victims, and protecting those most vulnerable to enslavement. It continues to promote the transformation of ideologies of hierarchy responsible for the resilience of slavery and its legacies in certain regions and contexts of Niger and the sub-region. It involves a close collaboration with grassroots communities of affected groups, especially female survivors who wish to share their past experience and make their voices heard not as victims, but as drivers of change. It musters public support through an 'Artists for Freedom' weekly radio programme, a series of 'Music for Freedom' concert tours, an art prize for works on the theme of slavery in Africa, and news and media information campaigns reaching out to a diverse national and international public.
In this second stage, called LESLAN 2, research and data-collection activities are replaced by emphasis on the operationalisation of earlier findings with the aim of achieving a profound and lasting impact on society and politics. Research-related activities are limited to the participatory analysis and interpretation of previously collected evidence for the purpose of developing strategies and practices aimed at reducing descent-based slavery and its legacies. The objectives and methods of LESLAN 2 have been co-designed by the team of LESLAN 1 on the basis of initial results, unexpected developments, and consultation with grassroots participants. In LESLAN 2 Timidria plays a leading role in the management and implementation of all activities. Drawing from insights and best practices learned in LESLAN 1, it engages relevant governmental institutions, other sub-regional NGOs, artists and creative professionals, representatives of affected communities, and the wider public in a programme of collaborative action aimed at changing slavery-related policy and practice in the sub-region. Activities include a series of focused meetings with different stakeholders, the development of user-oriented, openly accessible publications co-designed and co-authored with West African abolitionist organisations and survivors of slavery, and an art-based campaign aimed at gaining public support for anti-slavery stances and policies.
Through consultations, publications, advocacy, public engagement and art-based outreach LESLAN 2 contributes to hampering slavery, supporting victims, and protecting those most vulnerable to enslavement. It continues to promote the transformation of ideologies of hierarchy responsible for the resilience of slavery and its legacies in certain regions and contexts of Niger and the sub-region. It involves a close collaboration with grassroots communities of affected groups, especially female survivors who wish to share their past experience and make their voices heard not as victims, but as drivers of change. It musters public support through an 'Artists for Freedom' weekly radio programme, a series of 'Music for Freedom' concert tours, an art prize for works on the theme of slavery in Africa, and news and media information campaigns reaching out to a diverse national and international public.
Publications
Ismard P.
(2021)
Les mondes de l'esclavage: Une histoire comparée
Moussa, O.
(2022)
Etude sur l'Esclavage au Niger: Temoignages, Manifestations et Causes
Quirk J
(2022)
Slavery and Marriage in African Societies
in Slavery & Abolition
Rossi B
(2021)
Reflections on public slavery and social death
in Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies
Rossi B
(2021)
Promises and Pitfalls of Global Comparisons: Slavery in West African Political Cultures
in African Economic History
Rossi B
(2023)
The Palgrave Handbook of Global Slavery throughout History
| Title | "Pauvre", new song composed by Sage Soldat |
| Description | LESLAN's Music for Freedom Coordinator Sage Soldat aka Yacouba Ibrahim continues to commit his art and energy to raising awareness for the difficulties faced by poor and vulnerable groups. On 22 Februrary 2022 hereleased his new track and music video 'Pauvre' (Poor) which was advertised on the Project's website and in the West Africa music media. |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The Coordinator of LESLAN's Music for Freedom programme achieved greater visibility for his committed art; his new song reached out to young audiences who engage in some of the main societal problems of their region and times. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2022/02/22/nouveau-video-de-sage-soldat-new-music-video-release/ |
| Title | Concert in Agadez, 10 December 1021 |
| Description | The concert of Agadez took place on 2 December 2021 to commemorate the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. It was attended by a large audience of youths from the Saharan city and its nearby hamlets and villages. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The concert of Agadez was marked by an important recognition for Sage Soldat's and Timidria's anti-slavery engagement, as His Excellency the Sultan of Agadez agreed to meet Sage Soldat and his team of young musicians in support of the << Music For Freedom >> program of the LESLAN Project on occasion of the LESLAN concert of 2 December. The Sultan of Agadez is a moral authority recognized in the subregion beyond national borders and therefore his audience to the team of young musicians had a major symbolic event. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2021/12/21/rencontre-avec-le-sultan-dagadez-meeting-with-the-sultan-of-agadez/ |
| Title | Concert in Tahoua, 10 July 2021 |
| Description | The first concert of the Music for Freedom programme of the LESLAN Project took place in Tahoua on Saturday 10 July to a great reception and welcoming audience. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | With around 500 people in attendance, concert organiser and artist Sage Soldat particularly appreciated "the capacity for discussion with the public on the theme of the concert: justice, slavery, human trafficking, violence inflicted on different social groups, and marginalization". Ibrahim Oumarou Yacouba, known as Sage Soldat, performed his flagship track 'Slavery', and was joined onstage by artists including; Plan International pan-African competition prizewinner and Hausa singer Ham D Mallam, 'slammer' Hevi Joel K. Senam (Slam is a discipline, born in Chicago in the 1980s, which has been developing in Niger since the mid-2000s), Niamey artist and rapper Shaf, and sound technician, DJ and event organizer Cisse Mohamed Cisse alias DJ Sisko Lova. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/le-deuxieme-concert-de-leslan-a-tahoua/ |
| Title | Concert in Zinder, 28 September 2021 |
| Description | The third concert funded by LESLAN2 as part of its "Music For Freedom" programme took place in Zinder at La Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture (MJC) of Zinder at 8 p.m. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The concert was coordinated to take place on the National Day of Mobilization Against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery with the participation of eight artists and groups from Niamey and from Zinder comprising of: Sage Soldat, Ham D Mallam, Abdoul Salam, Baba Nociph, Ismagul Wandara, Les Filles de Matamaye, Cisse Mohamed (sound technician and DJ) and Shaf Ahmed (digital producer and images). In their work and performances, artists raised awareness of the existence of slavery in Niger and advocated for the commitment of the youth in fighting injustices related to marginalization, equality, and respect for human rights. On this occasion, the Zinder concert saw the turnout of around one hundred people. There were difficulties in publicizing the concert in advance and artist and Music For Freedom coordinator Sage Soldat aka Yacouba Ibrahima talked about his experience with this particular audience that evening: "It should be remembered that Zinder's audience is a demanding audience and that is difficult to master. It is demanding, in the sense that they ask us to sing in a different language because they don't like French, except that the majority of our song texts are written in French. Also, whilst we were singing, the audience shouted at us, they wanted us to stop and give them what they are used to hearing (Hausa songs). It is an audience that does not like an awareness song (songs about slavery for example). There is therefore serious communication and awareness-raising work to be done at this level". Despite a perceived mixed reception, there was much to be learned, and it was a great experience for all artists involved and they enjoyed giving their energy and sharing their song lyrics with those who were there. Importantly for Sage Soldat "this allowed me to understand that the public also differs from one region to another and that it is necessary to prepare for any eventuality. It is important to underline that the success of an event, regardless of its size, depends on the means implemented to inform the public". The concert was coordinated to take place on the National Day of Mobilization Against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery with the participation of eight artists and groups from Niamey and from Zinder comprising of: Sage Soldat, Ham D Mallam, Abdoul Salam, Baba Nociph, Ismagul Wandara, Les Filles de Matamaye, Cisse Mohamed (sound technician and DJ) and Shaf Ahmed (digital producer and images). In their work and performances, artists raised awareness of the existence of slavery in Niger and advocated for the commitment of the youth in fighting injustices related to marginalization, equality, and respect for human rights. On this occasion, the Zinder concert saw the turnout of around one hundred people. There were difficulties in publicizing the concert in advance and artist and Music For Freedom coordinator Sage Soldat aka Yacouba Ibrahima talked about his experience with this particular audience that evening: "It should be remembered that Zinder's audience is a demanding audience and that is difficult to master. It is demanding, in the sense that they ask us to sing in a different language because they don't like French, except that the majority of our song texts are written in French. Also, whilst we were singing, the audience shouted at us, they wanted us to stop and give them what they are used to hearing (Hausa songs). It is an audience that does not like an awareness song (songs about slavery for example). There is therefore serious communication and awareness-raising work to be done at this level". Despite a perceived mixed reception, there was much to be learned, and it was a great experience for all artists involved and they enjoyed giving their energy and sharing their song lyrics with those who were there. Importantly for Sage Soldat "this allowed me to understand that the public also differs from one region to another and that it is necessary to prepare for any eventuality. It is important to underline that the success of an event, regardless of its size, depends on the means implemented to inform the public". Regarding interviewing other artists and individuals for the related LESLAN Ar-Po-Lib webpage Sage Soldat commented "my biggest regret is not having done any interviews/shows in Zinder. Indeed, no artist wanted to take part in any interview I proposed. The reason for some is the fear of speaking out on a subject related to slavery". |
| URL | https://leslan.org/le-troisieme-concert-leslan-a-zinder/ |
| Title | Launch of the second LESLAN-Art-Prize |
| Description | The LESLAN Project announced the "LESLAN Art Prize 2022" in early Februrary 2022. As in 2019 (LESLAN first Art Prize), the LESLAN Art Prize asks Nigerien artists, men and women, to interpret the theme of slavery through their sensitivity and creativity. LESLAN continues to associate national artists (visual arts) with the fight against the legacies of slavery and descent-based discrimination. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The deadline for submitting artworks is 14 April 2022. The winners' worls will be exhibited at the LESLAN Policy Roundtable in Niamey on 8-10 June 2022. So most of the impacts are in the future. However it is noteworthy that the jury consists of four established specialist art critics and art historians: Professor Antoinette Tidjani-Alou: Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (Niger) where she directs the new branch in << Arts and Culture >> and established a Laboratory for the Study, Research, Practice and Valorization of Arts and of Culture (LERVAP). Giles Peppiat: Internationally recognized expert in African art and Director of the Modern and Contemporary African Arts Department at Bonhams: https://www.bonhams.com/departments/PIC-AFR/ Stacey Kennedy: PhD student and researcher on the artistic production and engagement of contemporary African women artists; African art consultant and blogger: https://twitter.com/stakkkiii?lang=en Zachary Kingdon: Director of African Collections at World Museum Liverpool; researcher, author, and specialist in African sculpture and historical formation of African art collections around the world. https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/collections/ethnology/africa/ |
| URL | https://leslan.org/prix/ |
| Title | New song and music video by Yacouba Ibrahim "Sage Soldat", Cooridnator of LESLAN's "Music for Freedom" programme and public outreach activities. |
| Description | Sage Soldat's artistic production is a form of engaged art that aims at promoting the emancipation of marginalised, discriminated, and vulnerable groups. In this contexts and inspired in part by LESLAN's focus on women as a group particularly vulnerable to enslavement in Niger (see "Wahaici" documentary), Sage Doldat produced a video that promotes the empowerment of women. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Sage Soldat is associated with LESLAN, having been a key player in the Project's activities since its beginning. The new video helped stimulate reflections on people's perceptions of women's image generally, while LESLAN focused on the circumstances of former victims of sexual and conjugal slavery. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxDo7z2WVPE |
| Description | LESLAN2 resulted in two main outputs, namely: a comprehensive Study of Slavery in Niger based on over 200 interviews in seven of the country's administrative regions carried out by a team of Nigerien researchers in the Project's first phase, LESLAN1 (Lead Author: Oumarou Moussa); and a documentary entitled "Wahaici", which makes accessible testimonies by women survivors of the form of trafficking and sexual slavery known as the "wahaya phenomenon" (lead authors: Apsatou Bagaya, Hadijatou Mani et al.) "Wahaici was co-designed and co-produced with the collaboration of former victims turned activists, including the world-famous activist Hadijatou Mani Koraou, who with nine other women survivors acted as consultants for this output. The Study and documentary were presented to representatives of the government, international organisations, sub-regional anti-slavery associations, and Timidria's grassroots members at LESLAN2's final conference in Niamey in June 2022 and at several subsequent public events. Other results included the organisation of major policy events at the national and subregional level, public engagement thorugh a series of music concerts and a national Art Prize, the achievement of a PhD degree by the Project's lead researcher, and impact on the strategies of human rights practitioners in Niger and the sub-region. |
| Exploitation Route | By consulting the website and forthcoming publications of LESLAN2, reproducing best practices, and joining institutions and networks that have been involved in the implementation of LESLAN2. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| URL | https://leslan.org |
| Description | LESLAN2 developed a process of participatory analysis and interpretation of previously collected evidence (in LESLAN 1) that resulted in the publication of a Study on Slavery in Niger (lead author: Oumarou Moussa) and the realisation of a documentary on a form of conjugal slavery called "wahaici" produced by Nigerien activist photographer Apsatou Bagaya, with the support of Hadijatou Mani as leader of the grassroots women activist consultants and of linguist Aicha Mohamed Kolan Kolan, coordinator of the gender component of the Project. These results were co-designed and co-realized with grassroots members and representatives of Nigerien civil society. They have fuelled Timidria's exchanges with other abolitionist organizations in West Africa, mainly the "G5 Sahel Slavery" network. LESLAN 2 also supported major policy events, fora, and outreach activities that intensified the political impact of Timidria in its lobbying of the government of Niger. It also supported the collaboration of a West African network of anti-slavery associations whose aim is to suppress slavery and trafficing and break down persistent hierarchical ideologies that make possible the stigmatisation, marginalisation, and exploitation of persons considered "slave descendants". LESLAN 2 organised several concerts in the series "Music for Freedom" coordinated by Yacouba Ibrahim Oumarou known as "Sage Soldat" and offered an art prize for outstanding artistic works on the theme of slavery in Niger. It collaborated with the main national and regional anti-slavery activists, academics, politically-engaged artists, photographers, and victims-turned-activists at the grassroots level. The Study on Slavery and the Documentary "Wahaici" are openly accessible on LESLAN's website and are being shown at public events in schools and cultural centres, as well as used for training of practitioners (police, magistrates, paralegal specialists). "Wahaici" has been shown at debates of the commission for the revision of the country's Penal Law to convince jurists of the necessity to address directyl and explicitly the form of slavery called "wahaici" that is practiced especially in the southern parts of the country and feeds resilient slavery and trafficking in women and children. Those employed by LESLAN 2, and especially Timidria's managers and activists, have gained access to more funding and more opportunities to further develop their anti-slavery objectives and strategies thanks to what they consider "best practices" developed in the LESLAN project. Early Career members have completed Masters (Yacouba Ibrahim), PhDs (Oumarou Moussa), obtained scholarships for PhDs (Hamissou Rhissa Achaffert), and expanded their professional networks thanks to work they carried out with LESLAN. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | "Wahaici" documentary used to train police and judiciary officers in country |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Magistrates and police officers received training on the specific characteristics of the crime known as "wahaici" as described in the words of former victims whose testimonies are presented in the "Wahaici" documentary produced through LESLAN funding and support. This improves the prevention and victim-support services in regions where girls and women considered "slaves" (descent-based slavery) are at risk of being sold and trafficked. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2022/09/16/wahaici-outil-de-formation-des-officiers-judiciaires-wahaici-used-to-t... |
| Description | Anti-slavery Forum of Bamako, 9-11 June 2021 |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Participants in the Forum included: all the organizations and associations member of the G5 Sahel Esclavage network for the fight against slavery in Niger, Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal associations for the defense of human rights in Mali; NGOs, humanitarian and development organizations in Mali, religious associations and organizations in Mali; the United Nations ILO Agency; the UN Independent Expert on human rights in Mali, Mr. Alioune Tine. The opening ceremony was chaired by the National Director of Judicial Affairs and the interim Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Mali. Therefore the government was confronted with the claims and demands of regional anti-slavery NGOs and hed to respond. Slavery has not yet been criminalized in Mali, but the Forum was a key moment in a long-term struggle for change in the regulatory environment, for demanding greater state and police support to victims of attacks by pro-slavery groups, and it contributed to the consolidation of anti-slavery public attitudes. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/esclavage-et-abolitionnisme-dans-lafrique-du-xxieme-siecle-slavery-and-abolitioni... |
| Description | Citation in allocution of Ali Bouzou (Secretary General of "G5 Sahel Esclavage" network and Executive Secretary of NGO Timidria) at the Nouakchott Sub-regional Anti-Slavery Forum |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | On 16-18 March 2022, the Palais des Congrès of Nouakchott (Maurittania) hosted a sub-regional symposium on the theme: "Fighting against slavery: a common and consensual fight between Civil Societies and the Governments of the countries of the Sahel". Unprecedented event, conceived by the world renown abolitionist Hon. Biram Dah Abeid and organized by IRA Mauritania, which he presides, the symposium took place over two days under the high patronage of the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. It was attended by representatives from more than 15 West African anti-slavery associations and various ministries and national (Mauritanian) and international human rights institutions. It was broadly mediatised in Mauritania and other West African Francophone countries. |
| URL | https://leslanorg.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/discours-du-secrecc81taire-execc81cutif-acc80-la-recc8... |
| Description | Public Forum at Niamey's Palace of Congresses on the Fight Against Slavery in the sub-region, 15-16 March 2023 |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Formal statements made in public by regulatory or Government bodies which describe and demonstrate the impact of policy change. See: https://leslan.org/2023/03/16/la-contribution-de-leslan-officiellement-reconnue-leslans-contribution-officially-acknowledged/ |
| URL | https://leslan.org/esclavage-et-abolitionnisme-dans-lafrique-du-xxieme-siecle-slavery-and-abolitioni... |
| Description | Text of the Declaration of Bamako ("Appel de Bamako") |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Impact | Following a coup, Mali's government at the time of the Forum of Bamako was led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, a Malian military officer who has been serving as interim President of Mali since 28 May 2021. With Mr Choguel Kokalla Maiga as acting Prime Minister, the government was potentially transitory and comprised a majority of military officers. These were the unexpected circumstances in which the Forum of Bamako - planned months in advance of the coup in response to the attacks of pro-slavery groups - took place. In a tense political climate, the Declaration of Bamako put the problem of slavery back on the government's agenda. It did not lead to the passing of a law criminalising slavery, as hoped, but it was circulated and commented upon broadly and reinforced the coalition of NGOs, international humanitarian organisations, and local civil society who have been collaborating to resist the violence of pro-slavery groups. |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2021/06/26/appel-de-bamako-2021-the-declaration-of-bamako-2021/ |
| Description | African Abolitionism: The Rise and Transformation of Antislavery in Africa (AFRAB) - note: AFRAB contributed about GBP 15,000 to LESLAN2 in 2022 |
| Amount | € 2,499,951 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 885418 |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | GCRF and Newton Fund Consolidation Account (GNCA) |
| Amount | £4,648 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 573808 (UCL reference number) |
| Organisation | Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with ERC-funded project African Abolitionism: The Rise and Transformations of Anti-Slavery in Africa |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Mr Oumarou Moussa, the lead author of LESLAN2's "Study of Slavery in Niger" will present a summary of the LESLAN2 Project's findings at a conference co-funded by the AFRAB Project in Yaoundé on 19-21 April 2022. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AFRAB provided financial support for Mr Oumarou Moussa's participation in Yaoundé conference (flights, accommodation, living expenses, visa cost). |
| Impact | Presentation of LESLAN2 Project research findings by Mr Oumarou Moussa at conference attended by over 100 specialists of African slavery studies. Networking of lead researcher in LESLAN2 Project with other academics and activists working on African slavery. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with SLAFNET Project |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Mr Ali Bouzou and Ms Apsatou Bagaya, respectively Senior co-I and junior co-I of the LESLAN2 Project, are invited to give presentations on their activities and research in the framework of LESLAN2 as part of a two-panel stream on West African antislavery activism convened by Mr Ali Bouzou. Their participation (travel, accommodation, living costs, visa, etc) is fully funded by the SLAFNET Project: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/734596 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Mr Ali Bouzou will give a presentation entitled "State of the Art of the fight against slavery in Niger and the Sahel". Ms Apsatou Bagaya will give a presentation entitled "The wahaya's trajectory". |
| Impact | Both themes of these presentations are central to the work of LESLAN2 and presenters will discuss preliminary findings of the project with other specialists of African slavery attending the conference before revising the manuscripts of two LESLAN2 publications. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with the Anti-slavery Knowledge Network (AKN) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Antislavery Knowledge Network (AKN) is a network of academics and Africa-based activists whose work focuses on slavery. The University of Liverpool is the AKN's host institution. The AKN explores how approaches from the arts and humanities can address contemporary forms of exploitation. It adopts a community-engaged, human rights focus that delivers development impacts. It has supported collaboration and exchanges with members of the LESLAN Project since the first instantiation of this grant (LESLAN1), which was embedded in an AKN grant of 98933 GBP (https://aknexhibition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/LESLAN-page.pdf). This was the total amount contributed by AKN through a subcontract with the LESLAN Project, which in its first phase (2018-2020) was hosted at the University of Birmingham. The present report if for the LESLAN2 Project, which is a FoF grant. Technically, therefore, the 98933 GBP were not contributed to LESLAN2. But LESLAN2 is developing resources during LESLAN1. Therefore the grant of LESLAN1 was a necessary and continuously relevant contribution to LESLAN2. In January 2020 AKN supported the participation of 3 members of LESLAN (the PI Rossi, the co-I Bouzou, and one researcher Hamissou Rhissa ag Achaffert) in a workshop in Ghana in Januray 2020 (https://leslan.org/2020/01/31/leslan-a-accra-leslan-in-accra/ ) and invested in the development and dissemination of an online exhibition which included work developed by the LESLAN Project in Februrary 2022. I do not have the exact figures of the cost to AKN of our participation (hotel, travel, living expenses) but I estimate them at roughly 2000 GBP per person. Finally, in February 2022 AKN set up an online exhibition that displayed activities and outputs of the LESLAN Project. AKN incurred costs (e.g. personnel time that went in the design of the website and networking with tLESLAN2's team) for this that I am unable to estimate, but which were an important outreach opportunity for LESLAN2. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In the first phase (LESLAN1, 2018-2020) all project activities contributed to the success of AKN's programme. In its current phase (LESLAN2, 2021-2022), LESLAN2 contributed resources and material for AKN's online exhibition. In particular, Ms Apsatou Bagaya, Junior Co-I of LESLAN2, contributed her award winning photographs; Yacouba Ibrahim aka "Sage Soldat" contributed images from his concerts; and the project as a whole contributed images of material that had been displayed at its first exhibition in Niamey (Niger) in 2019. |
| Impact | The LESLAN1 Project resulted from this collaboration. The LESLAN2 Project is supported by a FoF grant that resulted from the first stage of this collaboration. The AKN online exhibition contains sections contributed by the LESLAN2 Team: https://aknexhibition.org/ Apsatou Bagaya, whose photographs were exhibited in AKN's online exhibition, signed a contract with AKN that constitutes a formal agreement for the temporary transfer of rights to display photos on which Ms Bagaya has copyrights. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Projection of "Wahaici" Documentary at "La Fontaine" High-school, Niamey, 8 March 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | On occasion of International Women's Day, Timidria's President Ali Bouzou and the famous activist Hadijatou Mani were invited by the La Fontaine Highschool of Niamey to present a screening of the documentary << Wahaici >> directed by Apsatou Bagaya and produced in the framework of the LESLAN Project. The School reported increased interest in forms of sexual and conjugal slavery that affect marginalised Nigerien girls and women. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2023/03/16/projection-du-documentaire-wahaici-au-lycee-la-fontaine-de-niamey-le-8... |
| Description | Projection of "Wahaici" documentary at Art Gallery Taweydo in Niamey, 23 Dec 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | About 100 people from the general public (including intellectuals, youths, students, and people intterested in arts and human rights) attended a public screening of the "Wahaici" documentary (a project output), which sparked interest in the "wahaici" form of conjugal slavery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://leslan.org/2022/12/23/projection-debat-du-documentaire-wahaici-screening-debate-of-wahaici/ |