By: Mustapha Momoh
Bunce Island, anchored in the Sierra Leone River, remains one of the most haunting legacies of the transatlantic slave trade. Between the late 1600s and early 1800s, this small, but historically significant, island served as a British slave-trading fort, where thousands of enslaved Africans were held before being transported to America and the Caribbean. Today, it stands as a vital site for remembrance, education, and cultural healing.
In commemoration of African Liberation Day, the Momoh Centre for African Life and Culture, in collaboration with several local and international partners, organized a day-long educational tour to Bunce Island and Tasso Island on Sunday, May 25th, 2025. The event brought together university students from various institutions, offering them a chance to step into history and engage deeply with the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
Francis Maada Momoh, founder of the Momoh Centre for African Life and Culture, highlighted the importance of the visit. “What happened on this island is still haunting us, much like the lingering effects of colonialism. The enslavement of our ancestors has been subtly embedded in our colonial education system. Bunce Island serves as a powerful symbol of the torture and dehumanization Africans endured before being taken to America and the Caribbean,” he stated.
He further explained that the purpose of bringing students to the site was to help them understand the complexities of the transatlantic slave trade and the nuanced interactions between indigenous Africans and European traders during the contact period.
For many students, the visit was more than an academic exercise. It was a profound and emotional experience. “This was a powerful eye-opener,” said one participant. “The lessons from the island brought the history out of the textbook and into stark reality. Being here makes the past feel incredibly real.”
The event was made possible with the support of the following organizations:
Kadiatu Lahai Foundation
Hello Sierra Leone
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University
Klymax Foundation, North America
Legacy Planning and Preservation
Monuments and Relics Commission.
Eco-Tourism Hub.
Together, these partners contributed to a memorable and meaningful observance of African Liberation Day — one that reminded participants of the need to remember, reflect, and reclaim the past as a path toward cultural healing and empowerment.