LES ENFANTS ESCLAVES / CHILD SLAVERY

Director : Actual Prod | Category : Documentary |

It all started because of stolen cars in Nigeria found in Benin. In exchange of these cars and under the pression of UNICEF, the Nigerian government says it’s ready to send back 6 000 Beninese children, who work in Nigeria as slaves! It’s the first time that an African government admits the existence of child slavery.
The existence of the slave children is a direct consequence of a perverted African tradition : the « Vidomégons ». A word which means children which were “given” by poor families to other members of their families, who live further away and are more wealthy, to raise them. With time, these children became slaves and are exploited without any reserve by their “foster” families. Nowadays, they are even being sold. In Benin 7 families out of 10 use a “vidomégon” child. These foster families do not consider them as slaves since they are fed by them, even worse, they’re not even considered as human beings. Rapes, torture, beatings and killing of these slave children prove it.
(France 2)


Year : 2004
Duration : 1 x 26'
Origin : FRANCE
Version :
Cast: