Join us at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22 in the Kelley Center for a screening of the film We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe, directed by Fred Kuwornu. The film, which was screened at the 2024 Venice Biennale, “unveils the untold history of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe through iconic artworks. This multilingual film, shot across Europe, challenges the notion that all Blacks were slaves or servants. It reveals a diverse presence, including princes, ambassadors, merchants, and religious figures. Narrated from an Afro-European perspective, it explores stories absent from traditional history books. The film interweaves art history with social narratives, offering a fresh lens on European Renaissance and the complex tapestry of Black presence often overlooked in conventional historical accounts.”

Director Fred Kuwornu will join us for a discussion after the film. This event is co-sponsored by the Fairfield University Art Museum, the Visual and Performing Arts department, the Humanities Institute, the Arts Institute, the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, the Black Studies Program and the Italian Studies Program.

Co-sponsored by the Italian Studies Program, Humanities Institute, Visual & Performing Arts, Arts Institute, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, Black Studies