Royal Naval Museum to be centre-stage in south’s commemorations of abolition of slave trade
March 25th 2007 is the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Royal Naval Museum will take centre-stage in the south’s commemorations as it hosts a full day’s programme of community-based events to mark the occasion.
The community day – in partnership with BBC South – will centre on Chasing Freedom: The Royal Navy and the suppression of the transatlantic slave trade, the special exhibition at the Royal Naval Museum which presents for the first time the Royal Navy’s role in combating the trade and its continuing work in defending human rights across the world today.
Community events will include performances of lyrical works on the themes of freedom, slavery and its legacy from finalists from the Emancipation slam poetry event taking place earlier in the week in Southampton; Reading’s RASPO Steel Band and storytelling by Cameroonian Noah Messomo, who will bring to life some of the human stories behind the slave trade.
A selection of specially commissioned short BBC films will also be playing during the afternoon and popular Family History expert Nick Barratt will be hosting a family history workshop in the Victory bookshop.
In addition, BBC South is staging an interactive day of broadcasting, workshops, performances and live radio broadcasts. The BBC’s Politics Show will also be broadcast live from the site.
For this day only, entry to the Chasing Freedom exhibition and all the community events will be free. Tickets will be required if visitors wish to visit the remaining attractions on site. The exhibition is part of a yearlong programme of abolition events at the Historic Dockyard, including African Legacy Week in July and the Chasing Freedom Conference in October.
