Narrator John Kinard introduces three writers and the reading of excerpts from their writings about the kingdoms of ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhei. Focus on kings who governed ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhei; their relationship with their people; and ceremonies and customs.
Narration. Part of Out of Africa: From West African Kingdoms to Colonization Audiovisual Records. AV003293, AV003379, and AV003359: same content. AV003293: dated 19790102. AV003379 and AV003359: undated.
Biographical / Historical:
The exhibition - Out of Africa: From West African Kingdoms to Colonization - explores early African civilizations, the slave trade, the abolitionist movement and the founding of the first African republic, Liberia. Maps, graphics, and tapes depict the ancient kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhei, Kanem-Bornu and the Hausa States. Headdresses, masks, housepots, gold weights, taped music and musical instruments and door panels represent the cultures of Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The journey into slavery is told in a diary of a ship's doctor, the account book of a slave trader and letters of a young passenger. Slave revolts are treated in documents, photographs and portraits. Photographs, books and other publications are included in a section on the Abolitionist movement. Additional documents and photographs tell the story of those who chose to return to Africa. The exibition was organized by the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum and held there from February 1979 - February 1980. Curated by Louise Daniel Hutchinson.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003379
ACMA AV003359
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.