What’s in a nation? What constitutes a sense of belonging?
State of Concept is happy to open its new year programme with the presentation of a project by Adéọlá Naomi Adérè̩mí as part of the public programme of “Kapwani Kiwanga: Deposits”, an exhibition that is on until the 12th of February 2022.
Adérè̩mí has been researching in her work the role of language in self-determination and identity. This prompted her to embark on an inquiry in 2017 of the term Afrogreek, a newly discussed term that, belatedly, followed similar forms of self-determination from other Afroeuropeans. In 2018 and before the global pandemic, Adéọlá Naomi Adérè̩mí together with Jackie Abhulimen interviewed several Afrogreek citizens and denizens, discussing ideas of racism, identity, nation building and their views on the term itself, creating a film that State of Concept was honoured to support. It is with great pleasure that we present this film to the public, in a time where discriminatory speech, racism, and xenophobia are on the rise in Greek society, and after two years of a global pandemic, that have augmented in European and global level sentiments of nationalism.
Online screening 20th of January at 7 pm via our Facebook live stream, with a discussion with Jerome Kaluta, Jessica Anosike, and Adéọlá Naomi Adérè̩mí.
Please read below an excerpt from the filmmaker’s note:
This film explores the stories of our fellow citizens, a portrayal of Black Greeks, a story of AfroGreeks from the AfroGreeks themselves. In this film, AfroGreeks are taking ownership of their stories boldly and courageously as they invite you all into their lives and experiences.
Read the entire note by clicking here.
Film credits:
Videographer: Aggelos Barai
Editor: Gevi Dimitrakopolou
Design: Danielle Rosales
Translation: Andromachi Papaioannou
Producer and Director: Adéọlá Naomi Adérè̩mí MPH, FRSA
The film “I am Afro Greek: Black portraiture in Greece” was supported by State of Concept Athens.
The exhibition “Deposits” is supported by Institut Français.
*Aggelos Barai is a visual art SNF ARTWORKS Fellow 2021.