We Were Here: The Black Renaissance Uncovered – Screening & Conversation with Filmmaker Fred Kuwornu

We Were Here: The Black Renaissance Uncovered – A Conversation with Fred Kuwornu

Assembly Rooms Theatre, 7 October 2026, 6–8 pm

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures (Italian Studies) is delighted to host a special screening and discussion of We Were Here: The Black Renaissance Uncovered (2024), the latest documentary by award-winning Italian-Ghanaian filmmaker and activist Fred Kuwornu.

Exhibited at the Central Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, the film sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. By uncovering how their lives, labour, and cultural contributions were systematically erased from canonical accounts, Kuwornu challenges dominant narratives of the European past. Through what he calls a “historical remix,” the film combines archival research with powerful storytelling to interrogate assumptions about history and its enduring legacies of race and exclusion.

Following the screening, Fred Kuwornu will join Durham academics Dr Lorenzo dell’Oso and Professor Katrin Wehling-Giorgi in conversation to explore the intersections of history, identity, and creativity, and to reflect on the challenges of recovering suppressed narratives.

This event is part of Black History Month. It is proudly sponsored by the Durham EDI Fund, offering a rare opportunity to engage with a filmmaker whose work bridges scholarship and activism, contributing to ongoing debates on decolonisation, equality, and belonging within and beyond the university.

All are welcome.

Event Details

Location: Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET
Date & Time: 7 October 2026, 6–8pm
Admission: Free (booking required)

Reserve your space via the Assembly Rooms booking link: CLICK HERE