We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe: Film screening and conversation with director Fred Kudjo Kuwornu

"We Were Here" unveils the untold history of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe through iconic artworks. This multilingual film, shot across Europe, challenges the notion that all Blacks were slaves or servants. It reveals a diverse presence, including princes, ambassadors, merchants, and religious figures. Narrated from an Afro-European perspective, it explores stories absent from traditional history books.

Following the screening, the Q&A with the filmmaker will be led by UChicago faculty members Noémie Ndiaye, Niall Atkinson, and Federica Caneparo from the UChicago Black Baroque Project.

About the Director:

Fred Kudjo Kuwornu is an Afro-Italian and U.S. multi-hyphenate socially engaged artist, filmmaker, and scholar based in New York. His work bridges past and present, exploring identity and race through historical remixing of archival materials. Kuwornu's films have been exhibited at the 60th Venice Art Biennale (2024), Museum of Moving Image (NY), Library of Congress, and international film festivals.

Learn More:

https://www.fredkuwornu.com

https://www.wewereherethefilm.com

This event is co-sponsored by the Black Baroque Project, Arts + Public Life, the Departments of Art History and of Romance Languages and Literature at the University of Chicago, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago.