Title:- When leadership fails humanity
is a wood-carved sculpture that reflects on the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the painful consequences of placing material gain above human life.
The work explores how European traders established exploitative relationships with African societies, exchanging goods for enslaved people. It also calls
... attention to the involvement of certain African rulers and intermediaries whose decisions contributed to the enslavement and displacement of fellow Africans. While the history was complex and involved different actors and systems, the central concern of this work is the loss of humanity that occurs when people are treated as commodities.
Beyond the historical event, the sculpture serves as a reflection on leadership and responsibility. It questions the purpose of power when those who possess it fail to protect the lives, dignity, security, and welfare of the people they lead. Leadership, in this sense, should not be understood merely as control or authority, but as a responsibility to serve humanity.
The work also connects this historical reflection to contemporary concerns in Nigeria, where insecurity, kidnapping, violent crime, economic hardship, and fear continue to affect citizens. These present-day realities are not identical to the Transatlantic Slave Trade, but they raise a related moral question: What happens to a society when those entrusted with power fail to place human life and public welfare at the centre of governance?
Inspired by the principle that the security and welfare of the people should be the primary purpose of government, this sculpture challenges leaders to learn from history rather than repeat its failures. It reminds viewers that the consequences of leadership decisions can extend far beyond the moment in which those decisions are made.
Ultimately, The Transatlantic Slave Trade in Africa is both a historical reflection and a call for responsible leadership. It asks: Will those who hold power protect the people they lead, or will the pursuit of personal interest continue to place human lives at risk? Read More
Signature
Mojereola Awal Ishola
Certificate
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity