Yesterday’s slaves. Democracy and ethnicity in Benin by Dr Eric Komlavi Hahonou, Roskilde University, Denmark
Discussant: Dr Han van Dijk (ASC) 

Slavery, emancipation, democracy, citizenship and ethnic groups are some of the topics covered in this film. Shot in northern Benin (West Africa), the film traces the long march to freedom of one man. His personal trajectory, both singular and archetypical, shows how the marginalized Gando seized the opportunity to access political representation and citizenship during the recent implementation of democratic decentralization in Benin. As explained by a mayor and municipal councillors, the Gando’s trajectory to power and citizenship started with an awakening and mobilization around Gando identity
via a cultural and social movement. The documentary looks at this universal and complex process: the construction of collective identities. 

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31 maart | 15:30-17:00 | African Studies Centre, Room 3AO6 |Faculty of Social Sciences Leiden University | Wassenaarseweg 52 Leiden