GRIOT
‘The exhibition is put together by six people of colour from Bristol, known as the Rebel Curators, they bring their lived experience, commitment and ideas to the table to to reclaim the narrative of the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans. The curators are Clive Smith, Jacqueline Braithwaite, Natasha Harrison, Augustina Ama Nkrumah-Duah, Ella Scotland-Waters and Adreann Asibey.’
“This is the beginning of a new way of integrating our history”
‘The interactive exhibition uses a combination of medias including digital storytelling, poetry, art and contemporary reflections.
Recognising the need for an Afro-centric and accessible approach, they co-created a new set of interventions to transform the gallery space, ensuring the histories of African and Caribbean people are told with depth, dignity, and authenticity. The work attempts to bridge the past and present, challenging audiences to confront the enduring legacies of the transatlantic slave trade with research into how those who profited funnelled money into organisations and buildings that exist in present day.
One of the curators Jacqueline Braithwaite also reflected on her work, she said: “This is the beginning of a new way of integrating our history. We all have a connection to Africa in one way or another. I have links to Europe and it’s important to recognise that.”
Article & Images by Hannah Massoudi / Bristol 247