The Reconciliation Triangle project is a project designed to confront the legacies of slavery in Africa, the Americas and Europe, and to heal the wounds of society.

On 9th December 1999, as its final act of the Millennium, Liverpool City Council unanimously passed a motion apologising for the city’s role in the Slave Trade, linked to a commitment to policies that would end racism and work to create a community where all were equally valued.

In December 1999, at the invitation of President Mathieu Kérékou of the Republic of Benin, an International Conference was held in Benin, attended by people from Africa, the Americas and Europe affected by the Black Diaspora, including representatives from Richmond, Virginia, and Liverpool. The President apologised for his country’s role in selling Africans to the slave traders.

At the Benin Conference Lord Alton of Liverpool presented a small maquette of the large public sculpture ‘Reconciliation’ created by Liverpool artist, Stephen Broadbent, which already stands in Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow along with a statement signed by the Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Joe Devaney and the Leader of the Council, Mike Storey.

In April 2000 a ‘Ceremony of Racial Healing‘ attended by 4 Government Ministers from Benin, took place in Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A. The intention was to extend the process of reconciliation.

As a next step, with encouragement at senior government level in Benin, Liverpool and Richmond, it was decided to raise funds to donate to Benin a 4 metre high bronze edition of the ‘Reconciliation’ sculpture, with specially designed panels by young people in Liverpool, Richmond and Benin. It was also decided that a further casting of the Reconciliation sculpture would be made to be sited on the slave trail route in Richmond.

The site for the sculptures erection in Benin was identified, a specially designed ‘Reconciliation Garden’ in the city of Cotonou was to be built. President Kerekou said “that it would establish a meaningful international connection which would reflect the infamous slave triangle. The three statues would be a physical and symbolic manifestation of a process of bringing together in an expression of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation - the descendants of those that profited from the evil trade, those on the continent from which they were taken and those now living in the place to which many slaves were taken.”

Project chair, Joe Devaney was invited to an International Conference in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2001. The ‘Connecting Communities’ delegates welcomed the Reconciliation Triangle Project as a major initiative in the understanding and healing of slavery’s wounds.

Joe and artist Stephen Broadbent both visited Richmond in 2001, addressing the City Council and presenting the Mayor with a model of the original Reconciliation Sculpture. Representatives from Richmond visited Liverpool on three occasions. The city fully supports the project.

Stephen Broadbent, the sculptor, worked with fellow artist, Faith Bebbington, along with children from six of Liverpool’s inner city schools to incorporate new low-relief scenes on the four flat sides relating to the slave trade between Liverpool, Benin and the Americas.

The final sculpture, based on these designs, was finished by Liverpool artists Stephen Broadbent and Faith Bebbington. The sculptures were then cast in bronze ready to be shipped to Benin and Richmond. In Liverpool it is hoped the bronze reliefs will be mounted and exhibited adjacent to the existing Reconciliation statue.

In October 2004, at a Civic ceremony hosted by the Maritime Museum on the dockside in Liverpool, a finished 'Reconciliation Sculpture' was handed over to representatives of the Benin Government, this significant event was also attended by a representative from Richmond. The leader of Liverpool City Council, quoted the words, ”the only way to bring reconciliation is to face the pain of history with courage, and then to change.” He went on to say, “We have begun that process of change, and this reconciliation initiative is one more step on that journey.”

Following the handing over ceremony a meeting took place that included professor Gerald Pillay Vice Chancellor of Liverpool Hope university, Luc-M.C. Gnacadja, the Beninese Minister of the Environment, Housing and Urbanism. Simon Pierre Adovelende, Executive Director of the Beninese Agency for Reconciliation, Tee Turner of the Richmond slave trail commission, Councillor Clein chair of education at Liverpool City Council, along with other officials and local community representatives.

A key outcome of the meeting was the formal establishment of a Liverpool Reconciliation Triangle Working Party.

• The development of common resources for training teachers in Benin, Liverpool and Richmond and the facilitation of dialogue between trainees in each location.
• Pupil exchange between the three locations.
• The development of a ?digital diaspora? web site that involves young people across the three continents
• The creation of educational resources for primary and secondary school
• The opening of the annual week at ?Reconciliation? workshops in Benin to students, teachers and other interested educators from each of the participating cities.
• Develop opportunities for cultural exchanges, in particular a celebration of African music and dance for the 2007 anniversary of the abolition of slavery, and the 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations in Liverpool.
• Develop partnerships with museums across the triangle, to gain understanding of how transatlantic slavery is represented, and ways to improve conservation and enhancement of the African cultural heritage.
• Develop a web site that promotes the initiative
• Publish a photo-journal entitled ?voices? of the triangle, for 2007
• Look for opportunities for economic development in Benin and amongst the communities of African descent in Liverpool and Richmond.