“Black multiplicities, African multiplicities? Theorising Migration, Identity, and Blackness from a European standpoint”

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The workshop aims to bring together academics, artists, and activist researchers from across the continent to share knowledge and engage in conversation about the complexities and diversities of African diasporic life in Europe. During the workshop we will consider questions such as: How can we conceptualize an African diasporic presence in Europe without reifying binaries and exclusions? What role does race play in co-creating identities? How can we understand what it means to be Black and/ or African at local, national, and continental levels, balancing the particularities of personal history with the broader networks of community and solidarity individuals are embedded in? What theoretical models and frames help us traverse racist, nation-statist, and colonial boundaries in order to better explore the intersections of African and Black migrations, identities, and lifeways in Europe?

Session schedule:
Nov. 18, 2 - 5PM
Nov. 19, 9AM - 415PM
Nov. 20, 9AM - 5PM
Nov. 21, 9AM – 1230PM

Public Event
Black Visuality in Europe
(19 Nov. @ 1730) – Library Hall
The roundtable discussion will link the academy to creative explorations of Blackness, with input from guests Dr. Melody Howse, Yero Adugna, and Solomon Mekonen. The evening will feature a presentation of photographs from Yero’s “Black in Berlin” series, a showing of a short film created by Melody and Solomon (and separate film clips created by Solomon), and a brief historical overview of Black image projects in Europe. The complementary discussion will contextualize Yero’s work in the broader context of Black visuality in Europe, helping us better understand the visual languages of Blackness and the impetus behind these creative expressions.

Reception and viewing: 17:30-18:00
Discussion: 18:00-19:00

Keynote lecture
African Diaspora Studies on Europe: Some Concluding Reflections on Conceptual Frameworks
(20 Nov. @ 1400) – Modular Building
Given by Dr. Michael McEachrane

If you would like to attend all or parts of the workshop, please register your interest by emailing Jie Zhang (zhang@mmg.mpg.de).