society
Chains to Contracts: The Evolution of Slavery in the Modern Age
Chains to Contracts: The Evolution of Slavery in the Modern Age
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
When we speak of slavery, the mind drifts to shackles, auction blocks, and the haunting cries from the belly of slave ships. Yet, the horror of slavery is not buried in the past. It walks among us in suits, uniforms, sweatshops, and the dimly lit rooms of human trafficking dens. Slavery has not died, it has evolved. The faces are familiar, the chains invisible, the cruelty repackaged.
It is not that humans today are still being bought and sold in open markets though in Libya and parts of the Middle East, they are but that their dignity continues to be auctioned off for profit, power, and silence.
As the American philosopher Noam Chomsky once said, “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.” This is the nature of modern slavery: hidden beneath systems, laws, and economics that present themselves as “normal.”
A Mirror to the Past
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Africans were deemed subhuman beasts of burden, creatures of muscle without mind or soul. Slave traders and their wealthy patrons justified this evil with religion, pseudoscience, and imperial law. French philosopher Voltaire once wrote shamefully that “negroes are inferior to whites.” Such beliefs laid the foundation for centuries of inhuman treatment.
Today, slavery has become more sophisticated, but no less brutal. According to the Global Slavery Index 2023, over 50 million people worldwide are currently trapped in modern slavery. This includes forced labor, child marriage, debt bondage, and sex trafficking. India, China, Pakistan, and Nigeria rank among the highest in prevalence. In the Gulf States, African and Asian workers live under “kafala” sponsorship systems that rob them of freedom. In Eritrea, conscription is lifelong. In parts of Southeast Asia, women are groomed, raped, and sold. Slavery now wears a suit and calls itself industry.
Yet what binds the slavery of the past to that of the present is one thing: a lack of understanding and empathy.
Understanding Is the First Step Toward Justice
In the days of the transatlantic slave trade, African slaves were deemed less than human. Today, victims of trafficking are called “illegal immigrants.” Workers in sweatshops are seen as statistics. Street children are dismissed as delinquents. Refugees fleeing war are labeled threats.
This is not just ignorance, it is the weaponization of ignorance.
As Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah argues in The Ethics of Identity, the failure to see the other as fully human “with dreams, fears, histories, and hopes” is what makes exploitation possible. “Recognition is the first human gift we owe one another,” he wrote. Without that recognition, oppression festers.
Philosophers, Prophets, and the Common Man
Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave turned intellectual giant, once declared, “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.” That is as true today as it was in 1855. The more we understand the interconnected systems that perpetuate human suffering, the less likely we are to participate in them silently.
Jean-Paul Sartre, a French existentialist, warned us that freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you. The enslaved of old were beaten into obedience; the modern slave is conditioned into silence by poverty, patriarchy, and precariousness.
Listen to the market woman in Lagos who cannot afford to send her daughter to school, only to later find out that child has been trafficked to Europe. Hear the cries of the boy from Bangladesh, working 16 hours in a factory for global brands. Are they not as human as the plantation slave of Georgia or the rubber-tapper of colonial Congo?
Capitalism, Complicity, and the New Chains
Karl Marx once said, “Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor.” That vampire has grown fangs. Under today’s global capitalism, workers are expendable, outsourced, and underpaid. Tech companies boast billions while their workers sleep in tents. Brands celebrate “diversity” while profiting off child labor in cobalt mines.
Even in developed nations, slavery thrives, subtly. Undocumented immigrants labor in farms, homes, and factories, afraid to speak out. Domestic workers suffer abuse behind closed doors. Prisons, especially in the U.S., operate as labor mills, where disproportionately Black inmates work for pennies.
Slavery is no longer a crime against humanity, it has become a business model.
Black Child, Think!
The hashtag #THINKBLACKCHILD is a cry for mental emancipation. It is not enough to learn about slavery in school and shake our heads in pity. We must trace its living roots in our modern institutions, from education and law enforcement to global trade and entertainment.
Bob Marley once sang, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” The Black child must learn to question systems, to trace patterns, to see the world through the lens of justice, not convenience.
Solutions or Silence?
We must start by naming the evil. Modern slavery must be declared a global emergency. Governments must criminalize and dismantle the structures “legal or illegal” that permit exploitation. Rich nations must stop preaching democracy while buying cocoa, diamonds, and garments harvested through suffering.
Education must be decolonized. Economic systems must be people-centered. And every citizen must ask: Who is paying the price for my convenience?
A quote often misattributed to Edmund Burke says, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Whether said by Burke or not, the truth stands.
The Fire Next Time:
The legendary James Baldwin warned, “If we do not now dare everything, the fulfillment of that prophecy, recreated from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us: God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water, the fire next time.”
We have run out of excuses. The chains may look different, the auctions may be digital, and the plantations may be replaced by factory floors, but the crime remains. Slavery still walks among us. What are we doing about it?
To compare animals to enslaved humans, as some do, is not only offensive to history but distracts from the ongoing slavery of humans today. The better comparison is between the enslaved of yesterday and the exploited of now, both victims of a world that too often sees people as tools, not souls.
Until every child walks free, until every laborer earns with dignity, and until every woman’s body is hers alone; the fight is not over.
society
Eid-el-Fitr: Obasa Felicitates Muslims, Calls for More Support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Eid-el-Fitr: Obasa Felicitates Muslims, Calls for More Support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
As Muslims across Lagos and Nigeria celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has extended warm greetings to the faithful, describing the festival as a season of joy, renewal, and gratitude.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Obasa described Eid-el-Fitr as “not just a celebration; it is a reminder of the values of sacrifice, compassion, and unity that Ramadan instills.”
The Speaker used the medium to admonish Nigerians to remain steadfast in supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, noting that his Renewed Hope Agenda is already delivering measurable progress.
He pointed to the country’s improving economic outlook, with growth figures showing resilience and inflation gradually easing after months of reforms. He also highlighted the administration’s social protection programmes, which are empowering women, families, and vulnerable groups, alongside initiatives that are opening doors for youth leadership and participation in governance.
“As our dear President steers the ship of Nigeria to the Promised Land, it is our duty as citizens to stand by him with prayers, encouragement, and unwavering support. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan – it is a blueprint that is yielding results across the country. These reforms may be tough, but they are laying the foundation for sustained growth, improved public services, and a stronger Nigeria,” Obasa said.
He concluded by wishing all Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Fitr celebration, urging them to carry forward the spirit of Ramadan into everyday life and to remain united in the collective task of building a prosperous nation.
society
FROM GLOBAL IMPACT TO NATIONAL SERVICE: DR. PRINCESS CHETACHI NWOGA-NWOGA-ECTON ACCEPTS CALL TO SERVE OWERRI ZONE
FROM GLOBAL IMPACT TO NATIONAL SERVICE: DR. PRINCESS CHETACHI NWOGA-NWOGA-ECTON ACCEPTS CALL TO SERVE OWERRI ZONE
In a defining moment that has electrified the political landscape of Imo State, globally acclaimed philanthropist, Dr. Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, has officially accepted the clarion call of Owerri Zone youths to contest for the Senate seat in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking from the United States, where she continues to advance her humanitarian engagements, Dr. Nwoga-Ecton made her position known in a heartfelt and resolute address that has since resonated across communities at home and in the diaspora.
A distinguished recipient of the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award under the administration of Joe Biden, Dr. Nwoga-Ecton has built a legacy rooted in compassion, service, and global impact.
As the Founder of the When In Need Foundation, she has transformed countless lives through initiatives focused on empowerment, healthcare, education, and social welfare.
Beyond her widely recognized humanitarian strides, she is also a passionate and consistent advocate of agriculture. For many years, Dr. Nwoga-Ecton has championed farming as a tool for economic growth and food security, personally supporting farmers across several local governments in Imo State.
Through her initiatives, she has distributed seedlings to farmers, helping to boost local agricultural productivity and encourage sustainable livelihoods.
Her impact is equally profound among widows and women, whom she has continually supported through financial assistance and structured skills acquisition programs.
These empowerment efforts have enabled countless women to regain economic independence, rebuild their lives, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Responding to the persistent and passionate agitation by Owerri Zone youths, she declared:
“After deep reflection, consultations, and prayers, I have decided to humbly accept the call of our vibrant and courageous youths to serve.
This is not a personal ambition, but a collective mission — a responsibility to represent, to uplift, and to deliver purposeful leadership to our people.”
Her acceptance has been met with overwhelming jubilation, especially among young people who have long advocated for credible, people-oriented representation.
For many, her decision signals the dawn of a new era — one anchored on integrity, inclusiveness, and visionary leadership.
Dr. Nwoga-Ecton emphasized that her transition from global humanitarian service to active political participation is a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to humanity:
“Service knows no boundaries.
Whether on the global stage or within our communities, the goal remains the same — to create opportunities, restore hope, and build a future that works for everyone.
Owerri Zone deserves a strong, compassionate voice at the Senate, and I am ready to answer that call.”
Political analysts have described her entry into the race as a game-changer, citing her international exposure, proven track record, and deep grassroots connection as key strengths that set her apart.
For the youths of Owerri Zone, their voices have not only been heard — they have been answered.
And in Dr. Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, they see not just a candidate, but a symbol of hope, a vessel of change, and a leader ready to chart a new course for the future.
Dr. Chris Oko Odey
Abuja.
The award she received from the US is the presidential lifetime achievement award not award of excellence please take note before publishing
STILL ON DELE MOMODU by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
I saw Dele Momodu’s response to my article on him & was amused.
I tried to be polite & restrained in that write up & I didn’t realise that it would hurt him so deeply. Yet for that I offer no apology.
I said he sounded tired & worne in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye but from his response today it is clear that he is now completely unhinged.
He has blown his gasket & his reaction is rooted more in emotion than it is in logic.
Frankly I feel sorry for him because it is clear that he is fighting a lost cause, he is badly diminished & he is now a shadow of his former self.
For Bobby Dee the glory days are certainly over & I suspect that by 2027 when Tinubu emerges victorious he will crawl back into the hole that he originally came from.
Perhaps at that time he will go back to taking pictures of former Governor Nyesom Wike, the Adeleke’s & other prominent figures for a living & shining their shoes.
Playing clips of things that I said about President Tinubu 11 years ago when I was in the then opposition & when I led the media section of President Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation will not help him to get rid of the stench of faeces that he has immersed himself in today & neither does it derogate from the fact that he was speaking rubbish when he said Tinubu is a dictator.
Unlike others I will never deny what I have said in the past about Tinubu or anyone else but at least I had the decency & courage to admit that I was wrong & ever since I left the then opposition and joined the APC in 2021 I have not looked back.
Not only did I fight for Tinubu in 2023 during the presidential campaign but I have remained loyal & committed to him & his cause since then and I have no apology for that either.
Unlike Dele I did not benefit from him for close to 40 years, eat from his plate, collect handouts from him, stay in his house, claim to be his brother and yet refuse to support him in achieving his dream of becoming President.
Bobby Dee’s nose is so far up the posterior of those he is now slaving for that he forgot to mention the fact that every single one of them, at some point or the other in their sorry lives & career, have not only changed political parties several times over but have also opposed Tinubu bitterly & even more vehemently than I ever did only to go back & later re-align with him.
I do not begrudge them or blame them for that because that is the nature of politics all over the world.
There are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests and in my view it is in the interest of Nigeria that Tinubu continues the reforms that he started in 2023 after he was elected President.
It is also my view that Nigeria must never fall into the hands of the conglomeration of court jesters, sorry clowns & motely crew of insufferable jokers that Dele is now speaking, slaving & fronting for.
I will still be gentle with my old friend because I have a soft spot for him but if he ever crosses the line with me again I will stop being so restrained.
He does not have the stomach for a real fight because he is vain and thin-skinned. He also has an over- inflated opinion of himself and a huge ego.
These are weaknesses in this game and not strengths and as we get closer to the presidential campaign he will learn this the hard way.
Meanwhile he should stay in his lane otherwise I will give him plenty to write about.
For him to compare Tinubu to Abacha was wrong and if he was anything like the dictator that Dele claims he is both Dele and those he speaks for today would either be dead or in jail.
He should count himself lucky that our President is a democrat and not a monster.
Dele’s lies, duplicity & shameless perfidy have finally been exposed & are as obvious & glaring as his very large stomach.
I advise him to do some press ups & go jogging because unlike before I will no longer remain silent as he & his friends throw mud at our President.
Game on!
(FFK)
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