2025 Panafest: Manyoro Pio urges Africans to lead emancipation narrative
Pe Pwakweah called for a renewed dedication to documenting and sharing Africa’s history from within the continent, not to reopen wounds, but to provide healing through ownership of the narrative.
The Paramount Chief of the Manyoro Traditional Area, Pe Professor Pwakweah Atudiwe Atupare Manchi III, has called on Africans and people of African descent to take charge of global conversations surrounding African emancipation and the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
Speaking at the 3rd edition of the Panafest and Emancipation Day celebration held at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp in Paga on Saturday, July 19, Pe Pwakweah condemned the atrocities of slavery, describing it as a peculiar case of exemplified greed and shamefulness.
Themed “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan African Artistic Activism,” this year’s event brought together thousands of attendees from across the continent and the African diaspora to commemorate the resilience of African ancestors and reaffirm commitment to justice and historical truth.
Pe Pwakweah, who served as co-chairman of the celebration, urged Africans to stop relying solely on foreign narratives of slavery and instead amplify their own perspectives.
“Why are we not telling our story? Why is the history of this event being told from the perspective of the protagonists of the trade? Why are our communities silent on the discourse of the slave trade?” he asked.
Pe Pwakweah called for a renewed dedication to documenting and sharing Africa’s history from within the continent, not to reopen wounds, but to provide healing through ownership of the narrative.
“We may forgive, but we will not forget this despicable experience. The happiness of today will not provide any closure to the pain and anguish produced by the slave trade. But we must be careful not to let ourselves down twice,” he said.
Pe Pwakweah also criticized the continued silence and historical neglect by African societies and leaders, asserting that the marginalization of African voices in historical narratives is a form of continued injustice.
“The overall conclusion of the narrative plurality is the denial of the African perspective. Let our perspective determine the scope and content of the story of the slave trade,” he added.
He further urged both traditional and democratically elected African leaders to place the collective ambitions and welfare of their people above personal interests.
The 2025 Panafest and Emancipation Day celebration was organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Paga Youth Movement. The vibrant event featured cultural performances, traditional food and crafts, artistic displays, and powerful speeches highlighting Pan-African unity and resilience.
Pikworo Slave Camp, one of the earliest slave transit centers in Ghana, served as a poignant venue for the commemoration, grounding the event in the lived history of the region.
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