Wilberfest ceremony disrupted by African objection

On Tuesday 27th March, the head of the British monarch, the Church and the British government came together along with a congregation of thousands in Westminster Abbey to allegedly mark the 200th anniversary of the passing of the parliamentary act to abolish the perversely labelled ‘slave trade’ in 1807.

The ceremony featured African gospel singers, the sounding of the African drums and horns which warned of the coming of the slavers, a wreath laying tribute to William Wilberforce and the reading of a testimony of an enslaved African. It concluded with all 10 bells at the abbey ringing out and 200 tolls of the tenor bell to symbolise the 200 since the passing of the 1807 Act.

At the point in the service where the congregation were expected to kneel down and ask for forgiveness for slavery, Toyin Agbetu from the Ligali organisation stood up from his seat, arms raised in a show of non-violence and walked into the aisle of the Abbey. He then proceeded to tell the head of the British monarchy, Elizabeth II, who was seated a few feet away from him and the then Prime Minster, Tony Blair that they should be ashamed of themselves. He reminded them that Britain were worse than the Nazi’s in that they do not have the humanity or humility to apologise for their role in the Maafa thereby shaming themselves and their nation.

The ceremony, which was broadcast live on international television channels, had to be halted as several men attempted to man handle Toyin and force him out of the back door of the abbey. A struggle then ensued before Henry Bonsu, presenter and Head of Talent for Colourful Radio, approached and attempted to calm the situation. Toyin then walked promptly out of the front entrance, calling for other Africans in the congregation to walk out with him. Sadly, the vast majority of them remained in the abbey for the entire service.

Toyin was later arrested and detained in a prison cell for approximately 9 hours after which he was released on bail. His actions bought widespread international support as Africans across the world and other people oppressed by the British vocalised their solidarity with the message delivered in Westminster Abbey. The protest followed on from the demonstration of campaigners outside an earlier service of commemoration at Bristol Cathedral on Sunday 25th March. The demonstration, led by Jendayi Serwah from Operation Truth 2007 protested against the ceremony taking place with placards declaring “not in our name” in reference to the government’s Abolition 200 campaign. Jendayi said: “We feel this ceremony is totally inappropriate - 1807 did not bring anything for enslaved Africans”.