Finding Ananse, Finding Me : Curating Culture #22

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:01:29 +0200

Presenter: Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks
Founder and Artistic Director of Ananse SoundSplash,

Ananse, the Spider-god of the Akan people of Ghana has survived in stories across the African diaspora. This qualifies him to be a symbol of African cultural retention. Yet he continues to be regarded with ambivalence. This perhaps mirrors the value placed on African retention, still searching for an honourable place in national life, excluded from discourse about “serious matters” such as national development and education, made to operate at the margins as entertainment, as metaphor for the undesirable and confined to spaces of near invisibility. Yet the impact of globalisation on the identity of post- colonial peoples and the resources available to determine their own agenda demand a change in this profile.

Whether you're a student, researcher, cultural practitioner, or simply curious about Jamaica’s heritage, this session will deepen your understanding of the African elements that continue to enrich our culture.

🎥 Tune in for a thought-provoking and culturally grounding presentation.

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