Dzifa Benson

Part of a three year project designed to increase access to the Society’s Collections for community groups, the exhibition 'Bombay Africans 1850-1910' explored the stories of Africans - (clockwise from left in the images below) Sidi Mubarak Bombay, James Chuma, Abdullah Susi and Mathew Wellington - highlighting the contribution they made to the exploration of Africa and the anti-slavery movement.

Working with community group Friends of Maasai People and a number of supplementary and extended schools, I researched the archives to uncover hidden histories through the lens of identity, migration and ownership. This research was used to devise and run a series of informal education sessions using poetry, songwriting, prose and reportage and contributed to the final exhibition.

I also compiled an online educational resource pack containing a range of activities to use with students from the ages of 8 to 12:

1. Encounters - Images of Empire
2. Kenya – A Changing Nation
3. Stories from East Africa