‘Walking with Wilberforce’ Trail Competition
This month, we were asked to advise on a local schools competition. School children of primary and secondary school age were asked to re-design the tiles used for the ‘Walking with Wilberforce’ Trail in the old quarter of Hull city centre. This involved members of the Fund working with Artlink and Hull City Council. The full competition brief can be seen here.
We suggested the theme of Adinkra; traditional symbols originating from the Akan people of Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). The Adinkra symbols represent popular proverbs and maxims. They also record historical events and are used on cloth, pottery, sculpture and architecture.
Using some aspect of the Adinkra symbol theme is a means of displaying powerful messages about slavery, freedom, emancipation and the human spirit, all of which can be associated with the close bond between the city and people of Hull and the African nations.
A full set of Adinkra symbols can be accessed at http://www.adinkra.org/htmls/adinkra_index.htm. The examples express powerful concepts such as understanding and agreement, peace and harmony, co-operation and interdependence, love, safety and security, and learning from the past.
Researcher-Interpreter Wanted
We are looking to appoint a Researcher-Interpreter for the African Stories in Yorkshire project. For full details see here http://www.africansinyorkshireproject.com/job-vacancy.html.
Africans in Yorkshire: New Stories Archives
Take a look at the growing Stories Archives with recent additions about Agnes Foster, Ira Aldridge, RAF Hunmanby Moor and Thomas Biggs. The latest news can be found on the African Stories in Hull & East Yorkshire blog: http://www.africansinyorkshireproject.com/blog. We are calling on you for any stories, information and recollections that you might want to share.
If you haven’t already, like our new Facebook page for the Africans in Yorkshire project!
The photograph is taken in June 1944 of the airmen with the congregation at Reighton Chapel (reprinted in the Filey & Hunmanby Mercury, 25 June, 1994).
