REVIEW. “West Africa: word, symbol, song” at the British Library

Thanks to its focus on West Africans telling the stories of West Africa and its well-thought out multi-dimensional delivery, the ‘West Africa: word, symbol, song’ exhibition at the British Library is powerfully insightful and approachable to all, from academic specialists to children and reluctant museum-goers. Camille Jacob took part in the curator-led tour with Dr Janet Topp Fargion and explains more about the event.

 

The exhibition “West Africa: word, symbol, song” at the British Library explores 1000 years of West African history(ies) through over 200 objects, including books, manuscripts, songs, videos, musical instruments, artworks, masks and textiles. This event aims to question the stereotype of an African continent made of a clash between oral traditions and imposed Western values by showcasing the long intellectual tradition of the region through the breadth and wealth of literature and graphic/symbolic systems as well as the complexity of oral literature. The organisation of the exhibition (five loose spaces, generally chronological) is closer in style to the Musée du Quai Branly’s thematic approach than other traditional institutions’ focus on colonial boundaries. Even though it is very immersive (with music through speakers, headphones, in “pods”), this is not a systematic overview of West African history or state-building (nor does it claim to be). It feels more like an exciting exploration of the diverse ways in which words, symbols and songs have been used by men and women to create, adapt and live forms of tradition and protest.

The main strength of this exhibition is the focus on having the stories and symbols of West Africa told by West Africans themselves rather than through a European lens. This is not always possible (for example some of the ethnographic recordings), but it does a fantastic job of not depriving the main actors of their voices. Books (Bibles, pamphlets, autobiographies), drawings, clothing created by West Africans give us glimpses of the encounter with missionaries and the slave trade. In doing so the curators avoid the pitfall of telling the horrific story of slavery only through the abolitionist movement, as discussed in more detail in this excellent article by Joel Quirk for Open Democracy. The idea of tradition as something which is written, spoken, re-created, re-appropriated and sometimes re-invented is also a huge part of this thematic focus, from the drums on display being borrowed from a South London ensemble who normally use them for concerts and work in schools, to the Notting Hill carnival bele dress bringing together African, Caribbean and European influences. Women’s voices are not silenced either, from religious traditions to music and literature. Songs, symbols and words cross from West Africa to the Caribbean, to America, back to West Africa, to Europe.

This idea of crossings links to another hidden highlight of the exhibition. The usual distinction between Anglophone and Francophone countries of the region is simply not used. While not completely irrelevant, it is very clear that over the thousand years of history it tries to portray, these categories would be not only extremely Euro-centric but actually utterly meaningless for four fifths of the period, in the same way as colonial boundaries do not play a role until much later. The colonial language starts to have a noticeable impact in the last two spaces, entitled “speaking out” and “story now”, which explore how words, symbols and music were used to raise issues and fight injustice, and the many ways in which these stories are remembered, told, created and re-created. In other words, one notices that a book might be written in French or in English, or that a president spent some his formative years in Paris or London, or uses links with Paris-based artists. But the spotlight is on the underlying themes and use of symbols, from the recreating African cultures (such as the Vai scripts in Liberia) to adopting and adapting new cultural forms.

 

‘West Africa: word, symbold song’ is at the British Library until 16 February 2016. More information here.

Art exhibition in London: Algerianism (part 1)

ALGERIANISM (PART 1)

Collective Exhibition

The word ‘Algerianism’ initially described a literary movement constituted in the early twentieth century by a group of French and Algerian intellectuals, who aimed to build a cultural ideology to reunite both settler and native communities. After the independence, the notion of Algerianism was taken by Algerian thinkers into a more nationalist and patriotic reference, looking to reconstruct a ‘new’ Algerian persona and identification.

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Algerianism (part 1)’ is a project collaboration co-curated by Algerian event manager, Toufik Douib, and French artist born in Algeria, Patrick Altes, that brings a reflective on Algeria’s emergent art scene on what the concept of Algerianism would mean 50 years after the country’s independence.

The perspective arising from the works presented is that there are multiple and eclectic facets of Algeria, being a singular country in the Maghreb, African, Arab and Francophone worlds. In fact, each artist shares an engaging vision and powerful message of cultural identity exploring topics such as the current geopolitical crisis or the place of women in the Algerian contemporary landscape. Artists exhibiting:

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Patrick Altes (visual artist)

‘Mizo’ Hamza Ait Mekideche (visual artist)

Souad Douibi (performance artist)

Kaci Ould Aissa (photographer)

Ghania Zaazoua ‘Princess Zazou’ (artist designer)

Yasser Ameur (visual artist)

 

26 October – 08 November I Open every day I 9am to 9pm

Private view, talk and reception: Monday 26 October 6pm – 9pm

 

At the Tabernacle Gallery

34-35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY, UK

(Tube Station: Westbourne Park – Notting Hill Gate)

 

This is a Nour Festival event

Supported by Istikhb’Art

 

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1641673726115030/

www.tabernaclew11.com/latest/exhibitions/

www.nourfestival.co.uk

Private View RSVP and curator contact:

Toufik Douib

algerianism@gmail.com

+44(0)7773877113

 

Above are part illustrations of the artwork exhibited:

1- ‘Mare Nostrum’ (Patrick Altes)

2- ‘Once upon a time, El Hayek’ (‘Mizo’ Hamza Ait Mekideche)

3- ‘This is Me, This is My Story’ (Souad Douibi)

4- ‘Istikbal’ (Kaci Ould Aissa)

5- ‘Import Export’ (Ghania Zaazoua – Princess Zazou)

6- ‘The Yellow Man’ (Yasser Ameur)