In February and May 2024, "Les Encres de l’Atlantique" hosted a series of profound explorations of Black worlds, histories, and cultures. Initiated by the association Black History Month-Journées Africana and led by Maboula Soumahoro, this series brought together authors, sociologists, filmmakers, and artists to engage in vital conversations about the Black African diaspora in France.
To begin, a discussion on Steve McQueen's film "Lovers Rock," part of the Small Axe anthology. Contributions from poet Jay Bernard and Columbia Professor David Scott, both Institute Fellows this year, contextualized the contemporary Afro-Caribbean experience in the UK, linking it to broader diasporic themes. Next, a session on Saidiya Hartman's Lose Your Mother, newly translated into French by Soumahoro, exploring the complexities of translating historical narratives, setting the stage for reexamining and reinterpreting Black history.
This theme continued with Petit frère, a book by Isabelle Coutant and Yvon Atonga about Atonga’s late brother and their divergent paths. Joined by sociologist Marwan Mohammed, the discussion delved into personal destiny, family dynamics, and social environment, by highlighting factors shaping identities within the diaspora. A talk with novelists Diaty Diallo and Balla Fofana furthered the exploration of identity, focusing on contemporary narratives of personal and cultural identity and linguistic code-switching in literature. This event also paid tribute to Maryse Condé, emphasizing the impact of her literary contributions on Black identity.
The series also reflected on the impact of visual storytelling with an homage to the "Les Pépites du cinéma" festival, co-founded by Aïcha Belaïdi, which considered how cinema bridges artistic and geographical boundaries, underscoring the festival's role in highlighting underrepresented voices and narratives. The series culminated with a retrospective of Rokhaya Diallo’s work, providing insights into her journey as an anti-racist activist, journalist, documentarian, essayist, and educator, encapsulating the series' commitment to addressing and challenging systemic inequalities and promoting a deeper understanding of Black identities.
Through this rich tapestry of reflections, Soumahoro's curation fostered a space for necessary dialogue, emphasizing the power of storytelling and diverse perspectives in shaping cultural narratives and understanding historical and contemporary Black experiences.
Keep reading about this year’s events:
