Features / Bristol
Remembering three generations of forgotten African women
Three very different areas of Bristol will soon come to life with the sound of three forgotten African women.
The spirit of an 18th century daughter, mother and grandmother will be resurrected through a digital installation at the Georgian House Museum, Greenbank Cemetery and the Bearpit.
Daughters of Igbo Woman is a remembrance of Fanny Coker (1767-1820), who was a maidservant in what is now the Georgian House on Great George Street, her mother Adaeze and grandmother Ojiugo.
All three generations were affected by Bristol’s transatlantic slave trade.
A trio of digital shorts by writers Akachi Ezeigbo from Nigeria, Vida Rawlins from St Kitts & Nevis and Ros Martin from Bristol (pictured above) were shot in eastern Nigeria (formerly Igboland), St Kitts & Nevis and Greenbank Cemetery.
Ros’ fascination with needing to “tell our own stories” was sparked when she read some of the writings of the late Richard Heart, a Jamaican historian and politician.
She feels that it is important to reclaim the space in old buildings that were witness to years of unseen people, and to find the stories of these African women whose voices are rarely heard.
Fanny Coker was discovered by Ros three years ago via a book and her curiosity grew from there. Workshops linking creativity with history are to accompany the installation, which will be carried out in secondary schools in the coming months.
On Saturday, August 26, there will be a live memorial tribute with dance, song and reflections to Frances Coker, born enslaved on Mountravers plantation on the Caribbean island of Nevis and buried in Greenbank Cemetery.
Screenings of Daughters of Igbo Woman take place at the Georgian House from August 19-22, Greenbank Cemetery on August 26 and 27, and the Bearpit on October 4 and 5.
For more information, visit www.daughtersofigbowoman.wordpress.com
Read more: New plaque on Colston statue brands Bristol slavery capital
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
