October 2018 - Celebrating Africa

Over the weekend of 27 & 28 October we celebrated the rich and diverse history of Africa and its people at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum during Black History Month 2018.

All activities were free and open to the public

  • Listen - Speaker’s Corner: African memories & Africa today     
  • Create - Adinkra Printing & Paper Bead workshops
  • Sing - Storytelling, song, poetry, rap ’n rhyme workshops

Celebrating Africa was a major collaboration between Glasgow Museums and the Unesco Chair In Refugee Integration Through Languages and the Arts.  We are very grateful for the participation of all our contributors and facilitators throughout the whole weekend, especially Pat Allen of Glasgow Museums, and our Artists in Residence Tawona Sitholé, Gameli Tordzro and Naa Densua Tordzro.

Without them the weekend would not have been possible. 

More videos and images from the weekend can be found on the Kelvingrove Facebook page

Nyasha Kanyimo and Vazumba

Gameli Tordzro, Jane Bentley, Sarah McWhinney

 

Ricky Dragon at Celebrating Africa 2018 from Unesco RILA on Vimeo.

 

Celebrating Africa: Speakers' Corner:

 

‘We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first one is roots, the other one is wings.’ Sudanese proverb

 

African cultures have always been outward looking. For thousands of years, until European colonisation in the 1840s, many of its cities were centres of creativity, science, wealth and commerce. International connections allowed learning, trade, culture and art to flourish. This powerful heritage is a dynamic and vibrant force that is both deeply rooted in tradition and also imaginative, innovative and constantly evolving both within the continent and amongst its many and varied Diasporas.

Join us as we celebrate the rich and diverse history of Africa and its people by sharing in our Speakers’ Corner.

 

 

SATURDAY 27TH

 

10.45-11.00am

Dr. Martin Bellamy, Glasgow Museums' Research and Curatorial Manager

Welcome and Introduction

11.00 -11.30

Prof. Alison Phipps, Glasgow University UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts

“Who Shouted Daybreak in the Middle of the Night” Why Africa is not all about Scotland but Scotland is all about Africa.

11.30 - 11.45

Naa Densua Tordzro, fashion designer, scholar, community artist and musician

Memories

11.45 - 12.00

Alberta Whittle, interdisciplinary artist and researcher

with

Thulani Rachia, Associate Artist with National Theatre of Scotland and curator, Transmission Gallery

In conversation: Building empathy through challenging what we know of African history.

12.00 - 12.15

Arpita Shah, visual artist

From Gujarat to Nairobi - an artist's story

12.30 - 13.30

RECESS

 

13.30 - 14.00

Tawona Sithole, poet and playwright:
honorary research fellow: artist in residence

Breakout Session: Cultural Connections Gallery:

pachigare poem installation performance

14.00 - 14.15

Tawona Sithole,  poet and playwright:
honorary research fellow: artist in residence

love poetry

14.15 - 14.30

Dr. Sarah Worden, Senior Curator, African Collections, National Museums Scotland

The Politics of African Dress: symbols of identity and belonging.

14.30 - 14.45

Brian Weightman, Assistant Curator 
Burrell Renaissance  Project

Voices From Africa's Past - Translating Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs

15.00 - 15.30

Brian Weightman, Assistant Curator 
Burrell Renaissance  Project

Breakout Session: Egypt Gallery:Exploring amazing objects produced by people from the north-eastern corner of the African continent

15.30 - 16.00

Dr. Gameli Tordzro, Artist in residence of the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration Through Languages and The Arts”

Memories and Stories: Celebration Through Reflection on Our Shared Experiences

 

SUNDAY 28TH

 

11.10 - 11.15

Dr. Martin Bellamy, Glasgow Museums' Research and Curatorial Manager

Welcome to 2nd session

11.15 - 11.45

Prof. Charles Forsdick University of Liverpool, 'Translating Cultures’

Translating Objects

11.45 - 12.00

Corinne Ottroh Ambassador, UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Language and the Arts

Food from Ivory Coast

12.00 - 12.15

Ricky Dragon, Rapper and Poet

Modern Alternative African Traditions

12.15 - 13.30

RECESS

 

13.30 - 13.45

Nina Mdwaba

The enduring power of women in South African theatre.

13.45 - 14.00

Pieter Van der Houwenphotographer and filmmaker

Africans around the World today.

14.00 - 14.30

Wanderin Dragon, Rapper and Poet

Breakout Session: Cultural Connections Gallery: Rap and poetry performance

14.30 - 14.45

Sali Dirar, Gallery Assistant, Glasgow Museums

Sudanese Coffee Therapy

14.45 - 15.00

Fiona Hayes, Curator Social History, Glasgow Museums

A Zambian Childhood

15.00 - 15.30

Patricia Allan, Curator of World Cultures, Glasgow Museums

Closing remarks