Someone remarked recently that the level of slavery and racism that prevails in today's civilisation far exceeds what transpired in the pre-colonial days. Right or wrong? This person's judgement is probably reinforced by the eminent manifestations of near legalisation of all forms of cruelty that embrace the practice.

While in the early days of slavery we had established institutions that fought against the ills of imperialist institutions that glorify slavery and racism, today, there are ample evidences that show that state establishments perpetuate in slavery, and their influence is so grave that we do not tend to realise the existence of traditional anti-slavery institutions. This trend is what has been responsible for our inability to tackle the vestiges of slavery.

Therefore it is not a coincidence that the African Union (AU) is pursuing the issue keenly. The just concluded Experts Meeting on Slavery and Racism organised by the AU and hosted by the government of The Gambia, highlighted the realities of the situation and the level of interest in fighting it.

For The Gambia, as a nation, our resolve in championing such a course has never been found wanting. In fact, it was just a fantastic coincidence that while these experts deliberated on the subject in question, the 9th edition of the International Roots Homecoming Festival was being celebrated. As in the words of the AU commissioner for Political Affairs, Gambian Mrs Julia Joiner, "the festival is part of the healing process for the past atrocities and part of a collection of strategies and actions to deal with slavery and racism.

The involvement of victims of the years of inhumanity meted on the people of black race will enhance efforts geared towards limiting the level of mistrust between Africans at home and those in the Diaspora. It follows that we must realise that our success in closing the gap between the two divided depends on the realities at the home front, where it is pathetic to note that barely 50 years of independence have effaced valuable memories of our struggle as a people.

Our preoccupation has been fighting the very institutions that safeguard our core values. The spree of xenophobic attacks that unraveled in South Africa is an unfortunate manifestation of the magnitude of the problems of self-identity Africans face even at home.

Again, to amplify some of the words of Mrs Joiner, instead of our diversity serving as a source of strength for us, we engage on self-discriminating campaigns. This is what the leadership of Africa should be preoccupied with. That would be for the fight at the home front.

For the international front, a common position on slavery would surely force the perpetrators to, at least, acknowledge wrongdoing. That might lead us to the ultimate. As one of the conference delegates put it: "the slavers must not only acknowledge the senselessness of the trade, but they must also offer amends to the Africans, especially West Africans, in a genuinely open and restitute manner.