We Rise: Remembering the Past, Reimagining the Future.




On Thursday 21 August, City Hall hosted its annual event to mark UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Abolition. The commemoration brought together Londoners, community leaders and artists to reflect on the impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and celebrate the resilience of African and Caribbean heritage communities. The event was chaired by BBC broadcaster Eddie Nestor MBE and featured a keynote address from Dr Denise E Noble, a Black Studies scholar and author. Reflections were also shared by members of City Hall’s Community Advisory Group: including Arthur Torrington CBE, founder of the Windrush Foundation; academic and author, Dr Javeria Khadija Shah; and fashion designer and entrepreneur, Lucy Isaiah. The programme also included performances of music, poetry and dance by African and Caribbean artists. This year’s theme, We Rise: Remembering the Past, Reimagining the Future, focused on the continued need to tackle racism and inequality, while amplifying the voices and histories of Londoners whose ancestors were affected by the slave trade.


Watch the Remembering the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Abolition 2025 at City Hall.


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