A chance to hear artist John Akomfrah in conversation with historian David Olusoga about Akomfrah’s new, multi-screen work Mimesis: African Soldier, commissioned by 14-18 NOW, New Art Exchange and Smoking Dogs.

The First World War was waged between empires that were global in their ambitions and reach. Millions of African soldiers served in long, colonial campaigns across the African continent, contributing to victories throughout the First World War. African soldiers were also brought from British, French and Dutch African territories to Europe’s western front, where many lost their lives alongside unheralded and undocumented carriers. Mimesis: African Soldier commemorates the millions of Africans and people of colour from across the globe who served and died during the First World War.

The world premiere of Mimesis: African Soldier is presented as part of Imperial War Museum’s Making a New World, a season of free exhibitions, installations and immersive experiences at IWM London and IWM North in 2018. Mimesis: African Soldier includes footage from IWM’s extensive archive to tell some of the lesser known stories of the First World War.

John Akomfrah is a hugely respected artist and filmmaker, whose works are characterised by their investigations into memory, post-colonialism, temporality and aesthetics and that often explore the experiences of migrant diasporas globally. He is best known for his multi-screen installations including The Unfinished Conversation (2012), Purple (2017), and Vertigo Sea (2015).

David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker. His most recent TV series include Black and British: A Forgotten History (BBC 2), The World’s War (BBC 2), and A House Through Time (BBC 2). David is also the author of Black & British: A Forgotten History which was awarded both the Longman-History Today Trustees Award and the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize. David writes for The Guardian, The Observer and BBC History Magazine.

Mimesis: African Soldier is presented on the third floor, you are encouraged to see the work either before or after the event.

Mimesis: African Soldier is co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW – the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, New Art Exchange, Nottingham and Smoking Dogs Films. With additional support from Sharjah Arts Foundation.

In conversation: John Akomfrah and David Olusoga