The Human Bondage Project: telling the story of slavery

People say that slaves were taken from Africa. This is not true: People were taken from Africa, among them healers and priests, and were made into slaves. - Abdullah Ibrahim, South African jazz musician

In addition to being a platform for screening and discussing the new direction of Public Television in the 21^st Century, Input 2008 is also a platform for pioneering special events that include The Human Bondage Project launch… in collaboration with UNESCO.

This landmark “Slavery” initiative will be announced to the media and delegates at Input 2008 and is expected to grab the imagination of the world in the same way Alex Hailey’s Roots did many decades ago. The project patron is Her Excellency Lindiwe Mabuza, the SA High Commissioner in London and the keynote speakers include the respected and legendary musician and human rights activist Mr. Harry Belafonte; and Mr James Counts Early of the Smithsonian Institute.

The Human Bondage project is a documentary and drama series that is set on making television history. It will be the first time that Africans tell the story of slavery, on such a grand scale and in their own voices.

Key partners include the SABC, UNESCO, the Thomson Foundation of the UK, the Commonwealth Broadcasters’ Association (CBA), and the Maurits Binger Institute in Holland as well as leading international broadcasters, producers and academics.