SANKOFA: AFRICAN ROUTES, CANADIAN ROOTS

SANKOFA

AFRICAN ROUTES, CANADIAN ROOTS

Sankofa features work by Lagos artists Jelili Atiku, Victor Ehikhamenor, Peju Layiwola, Onome Olotu, Onosanya Onolaja, and Stephen Tayo; Vancouver artists Berlynn Beam (Black Arts Vancouver), Michèle Bygodt, Chantal Gibson, Odera Igbokwe, Chase Keetley, and Nya Lewis; in addition to Yinka Adeyemi, Yekini S. Atanda, Z.K. Oloruntoba, Roodley Jeune, and more than 100 other works from MOA's collections from Africa and the African diasporas.

The featured exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA), Sankofa: African routes, Canadian roots will give you a unique perspective on “carrying your past into your future.” Sankofa is a common expression that has been adopted by many African and Black people around the globe. The term is almost ritualized and used as an expression of cultural and political affirmation. Put simply, Sankofa means “return and fetch it.”

An exhibit that features African and Black culture has been long overdue at the MOA. Sankofa was brought to life by curators Nya Lewis (founder + director, BlackArt Gastown), Nuno Porto (MOA Curator, Africa), and Titilope Salami (PhD candidate, Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, UBC). The collection focuses on introducing visitors to the different ways that African and Black communities interpret the world. It shifts perspectives and draws attention to not only the existence, but also to the continued success of Black people and their cultures despite societal ignorance and abuse. Throughout the collection, wealth from cultural and art practices are shared, highlighting historical accomplishments, challenging guests’ perspectives, and inspiring future generations.

Upon entering Sankofa, my eyes were instantly drawn to a wall covered in bright vinyl letters. The words presented statistics of African and Black people:

• 1.2 million African & Black Canadian Population • Four out of 10 African & Black Canadians were born in Canada • African and Black youth are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled from schools than their non-Black colleagues • In 2019, The City of Vancouver officially acknowledge August 1 as

Emancipation Day honouring the Slavery Abolition Act that took effect on

August 1, 1834, ending slavery for many Black & African People throughout the British Empire, including Canada

While generational pain, suffering, and trauma was noted throughout the collection, it was impossible to walk through without acknowledging the sheer beauty, courage, and power highlighted in each piece by the artists. I was exceptionally moved by a piece that juxtaposed old newspaper clippings to current publications. Some segments shocked me—one journalist had genuinely expressed concern for his own safety as more blacks moved into the community. Reading his article rose goosebumps to my skin as the anger and fear in his written voice leaped off the page. This uneasy feeling solidified as I continued to read through recent clips, realizing that despite verbiage changing over the decades, anger and fear was still very present.

THE ORI—THE CONNECTOR, ODERA IGBOKWE (VANCOUVER), 2021 , COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST

"IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK THROUGH WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE SHEER BEAUTY, COURAGE, ” AND POWER HIGHLIGHTED IN EACH PIECE

(ABOVE) SISI EKO—ONCE A SAINT, ONOSANYA ONOLAJA (NIGERIA), 2019, COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST Fear rises from uncertainty. We would much rather be afraid from a distance than step closer and examine the source of our feelings. A piece in the Sankofa exhibit illustrated this perfectly. From a distance, viewers could see two walls covered with teaspoons. Every spoon had been painted black and was hanging perfectly in line. The spoons appeared to be identical. However, when guests stepped closer, they were able to exam the intricate details of each individual teaspoon and could notice that the spoons had been gathered from all around the world.

Sankofa’s purpose is to bring traditionally overlooked Black culture into the spotlight. It gives African and Black people a space where they can take pride in their roots. Now that the space has been created, it’s important for us to appreciate the work. We’ve been surrounded with diverse cultures our whole lives but are still ignorant to the existence of those that live differently than we do. We cannot claim to be open-minded and accepting if we don’t push ourselves to learn and understand other cultures.

Sanfoka: African roots, Canadian routes is at the Museum of Anthropology until March 27, 2022

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