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Project News

Our latest project is an exhibition and series of learning materials, produced with support from Salford University, titled Exploring the Legacies of Empire: Some Perspectives from the Global South. We began work on this in 2019 and as of 2023 it is ongoing.

Legacies of Empire ExhibitionDownload

‘Exploring legacies of Empire – Perspectives from the Global South:’ Exhibition Launch Event

This Southern Voices event was held on 28th June 2023, at the Working Class Movement Library (WCML) in Salford.

The event was comprised of two 3-hour sessions, both of which were hosted by Afshan D’souza Lodhi. Afshan was a wonderful host who offered insightful and accessible questions apt for our varied audience made up of sixth-form students, young adults from the University of Salford and University of Manchester, and local members of the community. We were delighted to have Désirée Reynolds as our keynote for the morning session. Désirée is writer in residence at Sheffield Archive, and editor, journalist, broadcaster and creative writing facilitator. With Jamaican and working-class roots, Désirée was also able to incorporate her lived experiences of empire into her talk. It was also our pleasure to have Professor of Creative Writing Jackie Kay as our keynote in the afternoon. Jackie is a Scottish poet, playwright, and novelist, and was the Makar, the poet laureate of Scotland, from 2016 to 2021, and the Chancellor of the University of Salford between 2015 and 2022. Both keynote speakers provided us with thought-provoking, yet humorous talks, and created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that enabled people to ask questions, and share answers related to their own concerns and experiences.

Jackie Kay, keynote speaker

Participants had the opportunity to choose 2 out of the 6 workshops provided. The workshops were:

  • Legacy of the enslaved peoples in the Caribbean led by Inzinga Samms Alcott,
  • Using archives and literature to explore legacy led by Afshan D’Souza Lodhi
  • White migration – the Dispossessed of North America/Australia led by Kalombwa Chikoti
  • Divide and rule – the experience of the Indian sub-continent led by Heena Patel,
  • Cultural Resistance and ideas of Beauty – led by Vashti Gbolugan and Aimah Naqvi,
  • Southern v Western treatment of nature/environment led by Emma Barnes and Ume Kalsoom
Environment workshop
Beauty workshop

We are hugely grateful to our workshop leaders for leading such fantastic workshops, and for being so flexible in adapting to the various sized groups and the various expertise of the audiences.

The panel: Aimah Naqvi, Jackie Kay, Vashti  Gbolagun, Inzinga Samms Alcott, Kalombwa Chikoti, and Heena Patel.

A nine-panel exhibition, developing some of these themes and created by Southern Voices, was on display at the WCML.

We appreciated the space provided by theWorking Class Movement Library and thanks are due to Nathan Godfrey and the WCML teamfor hosting us and for letting us take over for the day.  

Overall, I think we can consider ‘Legacies’ a successful event! The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the only recommended changes being the opportunity to attend all the workshops! Almost all participants reported improving their knowledge of empire. The small group workshops, opportunities for discussion and networking were all appreciated. Key learning was the listening to and appreciation of other cultural perspectives.

Southern Voices could not have run this event without the enthusiasm and initiative of Dr Barnes. She brought students Aimah Naqvi and Vashti Gbolagun on board, and was instrumental in securing University of Salford funding for their participation as well as for the fees due to speakers and workshop leaders. We hope to work continue this collaboration and run similar events in the future.

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A Little Bit About Us

Southern Voices is a network of people committed to bringing the knowledge and understanding of Southern* and Black* people to the global issues that are central to education and to living in the world today.

Formed in October 1990, and originally named the Southern Voices Project, it was the brainchild and inspiration of a group of post-graduate students from the various Manchester Universities and founded by them with the support of exiles, Diaspora and local British people.

Contact Details

Southern Voices c/o Commonword Offices No. 3 Planetree House 21-31 Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JG

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