Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka recently spoke at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), saying that slavery is not a thing of the past. He pointed to the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Nigeria as an example of modern-day slavery.

Soyinka mentioned the Chibok schoolgirls, who were taken from their school in Borno State by Boko Haram in 2014. While some have returned, many are still missing. He explained that similar kidnappings continue to happen, especially in West Africa.

He described how kidnappers wait for children to go to school, seize them, and demand ransom from their families. According to him, this has become a common occurrence.

Soyinka compared the situation to scenes from the 2012 movie Django Unchained, emphasizing that anyone owned or controlled by another person is a slave. He also mentioned the 2018 abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, saying these incidents are a stain on the world’s conscience.

He warned that unless the world takes slavery seriously and fights it equally everywhere, it will continue for a long time. Instead of material reparations, he suggested a symbolic approach to addressing slavery’s impact and making humanity more aware of its past mistakes.

The UN has officially recognized slavery as one of the worst human rights violations. Since 2008, March 25 has been observed as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.