March 25, 2007 marks the 200 years passage of ‘An act for the abolition of the Slave Trade’ by the parliament of the United Kingdom on March, 25 1807.

A press release from the University of The Gambia (UTG) states that the UTG, in conjunction with the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Department of State for Tourism and Culture, will commemorate the Act in in a week-long event with programmes like a panel discussion on GRTS, cultural performances, a symposium, roots day trip and reception in observance of the day.

The African Slave Trade, the release state, is one of the worst holocausts known to mankind and the loss is documented at over 10,000,000 Africans. “It is also documented that the Senegambia region lost approximately 3,000,000 or more of its people during the Slave Trade,” the release stated.

The observance of this epoch in history, The Gambia will most definitely be highlighted and featured in many observations worldwide, given its notoriety by Alex Haley’s historical account in ‘Roots’. The release added that many people of all races are drawn to The Gambia because of this notoriety and to travel the historic sites along the slave trail all the way from Janjanbureh to the coast of Fort Bullen.

“Many tourists visit The Gambia for its culture and the significance the area played in the Slave Trade. This observation highlighting this period in time is sure to encourage and draw more tourists with interest in The Gambia’s historic sites and to ignite and reignite the interests and minds of those who have forgotten or have chosen to forget this crucial period in Africa and world history,” the release concluded.