Black Atlantic

Sep 19, 2023

The podcast explores the Black Atlantic exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, discussing the loss and recovery of African histories. They uncover the forgotten heritage professionals of Kenya and delve into personal family heritage through porcelain plates. They also discuss the significance of a painted canoe paddle in the exhibition and uncover the hidden histories connecting Wales, Jamaica, and Africa. The podcast concludes with an exploration of the significance of ancestors in the speaker's work and lives.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Exploring the Black Atlantic: Loss and Recovery of African Histories

02:11 • 2min

Uncovering the Forgotten Heritage Professionals of Kenya

04:38 • 2min

Exploring Family Heritage Through Porcelain Plates

06:12 • 19min

The Significance of a Painted Canoe Paddle in the Exhibition

25:40 • 2min

Uncovering Hidden Histories: The Connection Between Wales, Jamaica, and Africa

28:09 • 16min

The Significance of Ancestors

43:54 • 3min

In 1816, Richard Fitzwilliam donated money, literature and art to the University of Cambridge, and the museum which bears his name began. A research project led by New Generation Thinker Jake Subryan Richards has been exploring Cambridge’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and he has curated an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam. Artist and writer Jacqueline Bishop who features in this show, joins Jake and April-Louise Pennant, who has been researching the history of Penrhyn Castle in Wales. Plus, Sherry Davis discusses the rediscovery of Black professionals in East African archaeology.

Producer: Ruth Watts

Black Atlantic: Power, people, resistance runs at the Fitzwilliam until Jan 7th 2024 and a catalogue accompanies the show. You can find more on BBC Sounds from Jake Subryan Richards, who is a New Generation Thinker on the scheme run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to showcase new academic research. These include an Essay called John Baptist Dasalu and Fighting for Freedom as part of a series by New Generation Thinkers 2021 and Free Thinking/BBC Arts & Ideas discussions about Ships and History https://jacquelineabishop.com/ Dr April-Louise Pennant, a sociologist based at Cardiff University, has a Leverhulme fellowship to research history and Penrhyn Castle https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/penrhyn-castle-and-garden and she will be sharing some of her discoveries as part of the Being Human Festival which features public events taking place in partnership with UK universities from November 9th - 18th https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/ Sherry Davis is founder of Rehema Cultural Arts and a 2023 winner of the Deutsch Bank Award for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE). Rehema Cultural Arts partner with cultural institutions to decolonise their collections relating to African history. She has curated an exhibition at the Horniman Museum in South London that explores historic images and stories of African archaeologists https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/ode-to-the-ancestors/

A BBC Proms concert featuring spirituals sung by Reginald Mobley is available on BBC Sounds until October 9th.