How Black Lives Matter Makes Black Culture Matter
How the Black Lives Matter movement has impacted, enlivened and refocused the debate on repatriating stolen, sacred African treasures on display in the V&A, British Museum, Wallace Collection and other venues in America and the Far East
Michael Ohajuru Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies ,presents how the Victorians plundered African treasures with a white - supremacist attitude based on their understanding of what they believed as their God given right - to 'civilise' a continent that they understood had no history. Systematically they plundered in the name of Christianity and when the real motive was capitalism - money and greed. This talk exposes the hypocrisy in the European philosophy towards Africa - a continent which according to their philosophers and historians had no history , no art and no literature. Hear how white male European intellectual elites and academics marvelled at the beauty and brilliance of the Benin treasures unable to believe that 'barbarians ' could produce such wonders: We were at once astounded at such an unexpected find, and puzzled to account for so highly developed an art among a race so entirely barbarous Sir Charles Hercules Read (1857 –1929) British archaeologist and curator at the British Museum Black Lives Matter is making the establishment think again – this talk shows how things are changing.
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
How the Black Lives Matter movement has impacted, enlivened and refocused the debate on repatriating stolen, sacred African treasures on display in the V&A, British Museum, Wallace Collection and other venues in America and the Far East
Michael Ohajuru Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies ,presents how the Victorians plundered African treasures with a white - supremacist attitude based on their understanding of what they believed as their God given right - to 'civilise' a continent that they understood had no history. Systematically they plundered in the name of Christianity and when the real motive was capitalism - money and greed. This talk exposes the hypocrisy in the European philosophy towards Africa - a continent which according to their philosophers and historians had no history , no art and no literature. Hear how white male European intellectual elites and academics marvelled at the beauty and brilliance of the Benin treasures unable to believe that 'barbarians ' could produce such wonders: We were at once astounded at such an unexpected find, and puzzled to account for so highly developed an art among a race so entirely barbarous Sir Charles Hercules Read (1857 –1929) British archaeologist and curator at the British Museum Black Lives Matter is making the establishment think again – this talk shows how things are changing.
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
Misogynoir and the History of The Image of the African Woman in Western European Art
An illustrated presentation on how the image of the Black African woman was replaced in Western European Art and her journey back to centre stage. Beginning with how the image of Queen of Sheba and other black African women have been removed from canonical western art An illustrated review of how the representations of the Bible's black women, Moses's Ethiopian wife and the Queen of Sheba and Ovid's black Andromeda, the daughter of the King of Ethiopia, have been handled in canonical western art by Titian, Veronese and others, how their images have become white, demonised or disappeared over time. Considering her movement from elimination during the Renaissance, anonymisation in the eighteenth and nineteenth century to the reclamations of her image in the twentieth century and celebration of her image in the twenty-first century.
....if you want to know why we celebrate the Black King today yet there is no equivalent Black Queen in canonical works of art of Western Europe – then this talk is for you.
Comments in chat on 31st March 2021 presentation :
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
An illustrated presentation on how the image of the Black African woman was replaced in Western European Art and her journey back to centre stage. Beginning with how the image of Queen of Sheba and other black African women have been removed from canonical western art An illustrated review of how the representations of the Bible's black women, Moses's Ethiopian wife and the Queen of Sheba and Ovid's black Andromeda, the daughter of the King of Ethiopia, have been handled in canonical western art by Titian, Veronese and others, how their images have become white, demonised or disappeared over time. Considering her movement from elimination during the Renaissance, anonymisation in the eighteenth and nineteenth century to the reclamations of her image in the twentieth century and celebration of her image in the twenty-first century.
....if you want to know why we celebrate the Black King today yet there is no equivalent Black Queen in canonical works of art of Western Europe – then this talk is for you.
Comments in chat on 31st March 2021 presentation :
- RichExcellent Talk as always Michael. Thank You xx
- Thoroughly enlightening.
- Yes I a definitely agree its eye opening and truly fascinating
- It's really empowering that so many black women are becoming artists and saying it for themselves , reclaiming our image. fantastic , thanks very much.
- This has been Brilliant, thank You so much Michael
- Thank you very enlightening 👌🏾👍🏾
- Thank you so much Michael. This was such an empowering talk.
- Awesome presentation thank you very much
- Thank you very informative and inspiring
- Thanks for such an amazing and in depth presentation on our history.
- Thank you so much - this was empowering.
- We love your passion Michael....
- Keep up the good work Michael. Bless
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
Rembrandt's Blacks
Rembrandt lived on the same street as black folk, he and his followers painted them as noble human beings but that was not to last as the so-called Dutch Golden Age of the seventeenth century, founded on the exploitation of its colonies in the Americas and East Indies, unfolded.
Based on the recent HERE: Black in Rembrandt’s Time exhibition in Amsterdam this presentation exposes the change in presentation of the black figure from the centre of Golden Age portraiture to becoming marginalised, demonised in paintings as the Dutch economy flourished over the century from the profits of slavery. Today the Netherlands is coming to terms with that past.
This presentation exposes that change in representation and the journey the Netherland is on as it comes to terms with its history of slavery.
Comments in chat on 17th September 2020 presentation :
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
Rembrandt lived on the same street as black folk, he and his followers painted them as noble human beings but that was not to last as the so-called Dutch Golden Age of the seventeenth century, founded on the exploitation of its colonies in the Americas and East Indies, unfolded.
Based on the recent HERE: Black in Rembrandt’s Time exhibition in Amsterdam this presentation exposes the change in presentation of the black figure from the centre of Golden Age portraiture to becoming marginalised, demonised in paintings as the Dutch economy flourished over the century from the profits of slavery. Today the Netherlands is coming to terms with that past.
This presentation exposes that change in representation and the journey the Netherland is on as it comes to terms with its history of slavery.
Comments in chat on 17th September 2020 presentation :
- Absolutely riveting. Thank You so much for such an enthusiastic, relevant and thought-provoking talk.
- Michael…Comment…not question ~~EXCELLENCE, EMOTION,ENERGY,ENTHUSIASM….EMPHASIS on ENERGY !!~
- Excellent Virtual Tour of the Rembrandt’s Blacks Exhibit!
- Excellent Historical Analysis of Rembrandt’s Works regarding Blacks.
- What a WONDERFUL discussion I love the rich depiction of the black people as subjects in each of these paintings
- thank-you!
- great thank you, a wonderful visual explosion on the eyes
- As always Michael just the best new and eye opening information
- Such an interesting lecture! Thank you
- 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
Titian Sex, Race and Murder
Why the National Gallery’s Exhibition TITIAN: Love Desire Death could be better known as TITIAN: Sex, Race and Murder with its depictions of misogyny, rape and racism.
Titian’s Poesie , a series of paintings based on his idiosyncratic interpretation of scenes from Ovid’s epic poem Memorphoses for the the twenty six year old king Philip II, are today celebrated as amongst some of the greatest works of art of all time. But, seen through today’s twenty-first century enlightened eyes there are some deeply troubling depictions of lust, rape , sexism and racism on show. In their male dominated times these images and ideas were the norm, today we think differently, should these works still be celebrated in 2020 ?
This illustrated presentation will explore and discuss Titian’s iconic works from an African perspective.
Comments in chat on 16th August 2020 presentation :
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
Why the National Gallery’s Exhibition TITIAN: Love Desire Death could be better known as TITIAN: Sex, Race and Murder with its depictions of misogyny, rape and racism.
Titian’s Poesie , a series of paintings based on his idiosyncratic interpretation of scenes from Ovid’s epic poem Memorphoses for the the twenty six year old king Philip II, are today celebrated as amongst some of the greatest works of art of all time. But, seen through today’s twenty-first century enlightened eyes there are some deeply troubling depictions of lust, rape , sexism and racism on show. In their male dominated times these images and ideas were the norm, today we think differently, should these works still be celebrated in 2020 ?
This illustrated presentation will explore and discuss Titian’s iconic works from an African perspective.
Comments in chat on 16th August 2020 presentation :
- Fascinating presentation.
- Wonderful presentation, thank you! What kinds of processes would you like art museums to alter in order to better educate the public about these themes in Western art?
- Many thanks
- 👏👏👏👏👏
- thanks so much for this talk which raises many important issues.
- it’s helped me think about these pictures even more.
- Absolutely fascinating presentation. Thank you.
- Brilliant talk Michael,
- you absolutely answered my question and given me lots to think about
- thank you! :)
- thanks so much - this has been great
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
John Blanke – the Black Trumpeter to Henry VII and VIII
An introduction to John Blanke and the John Blanke Project. John Blanke was the Black trumpeter to the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, the first person of Black African descent for whom we have both a record and an image, celebrated by his entry in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The John Blanke Project is a contemporary art and archive project celebrating John Blanke presence in British history thru the works of historians, artists, poets, rapper, photographers and playwrights.
Comments in chat on 10th November 2020 presentation :
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]
An introduction to John Blanke and the John Blanke Project. John Blanke was the Black trumpeter to the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, the first person of Black African descent for whom we have both a record and an image, celebrated by his entry in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The John Blanke Project is a contemporary art and archive project celebrating John Blanke presence in British history thru the works of historians, artists, poets, rapper, photographers and playwrights.
Comments in chat on 10th November 2020 presentation :
- A great story and very well researched Michael. Brilliantly told. Enjoyable and inspiring. ThanLove you passion about JB
- Thank you so much. Such an interesting talk. Michael, your enthusiasm is infectious.
- That was an absolutely amazing presentation, Michael. Thank you so much
- Wonderful wonderful education
- Excellent presentation Michael. Brilliant
- Thank you Michael. Brilliant talk
- thank you for a really fantastic talk!
- Thank you very much Michael. Excellent talk
- I agree your enthusiasm and passion is fantastic. We need to keep sharing this history.
- Thank you Michael, such a interesting and engaging presentation.
- fabulous presentation Michael. So passionate
- Thank you Michael... very informative
- Many thanks for your presentation, Michael. Much appreciated🙏🏾
- Great presentation Michael
- well done Michael...another great presentation!
- Excellent, excellent talk, Michael. I first heard about John Blanke
- Fantastic presentation Michael,
- your enthusiasm is infectious. I'm going to take the time to learn more 😀
- great presentation you bought John blanke alive. Give thanks Michael Ohajuru
- Thank you very much Michael for sharing your expertise and passion! As a trainee history teacher believe me I will talk about John Blanke! Thank you
- Thank you so much
- Thanks for a great presemtation An excellent presentation. Your passion for John Blanke is evident and infectious. Therefore looking forward to the exhibition.!!
- Thank you Michael. A great presentation.
- Brilliant as always Michael!!!!
- You were brilliant there Michael.
- Wonderful presentation Michael thank you so much!!
- Thanks - this is my passion !
- Excellent presentation where is your exhibition and how can I hear more about your work?
- very passionate Michael....
- fantastic and inspiring evening’
- wonderful presentation, Michael. Makes research sound like great fun!
- Brilliant
- Good presentation Michael.
- excellent eveningl.
- Thank you for an excellent evening
- Perfect! :)
- Sooo informative
- A fabulous evening.
- Thanks very informative evening
- Thank you so much, really interesting!
- Clap Clap Clap! :)
- great talk
- Fantastic scholarship Michael
- Michael thank you for fantastic insight
To book call +44 79 40 50 79 00 or email [email protected]