The contemporary artists featured in this book include John Akomfrah, La Vaughn
Belle, Manthia Diawara, Jeannette Ehlers, Michelle Eistrup, Sasha Huber, Oceana
James, Patricia Kaersenhout, Grada Kilomba, Suchitra Mattai, and Alberta Whittle, who are all at the forefront of decolonial thinking. Through their artworks, they
convey compelling narratives that shed light on the entangled colonial histories that
connect Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. Collectively, these artists
provide crucial insight into some of the lesser-known aspects of colonial history, such
as Norwegian involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.


The artists featured in this book convey unique resistance stories about fearless freedom fighters such as Venus Johannes, Mary Thomas, Olaudah Equiano, and Anna
Heegaard, thereby allowing for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of colonial
history than the historical narratives that have typically been told from a Western
perspective. These are stories of resistance that help, at least partially, to set the historical records straight. By highlighting the stories of those who have been historically silenced, we gain access to a more nuanced understanding of colonial history and the
factors which have contributed to the continued effects of colonialism today, most
evidently witnessed in the prevalence of racism, poverty, and forced migration.


Co-published by Skira and The Africa Institute