An inspiring panel of speakers including journalist Gary Younge, Historians Hakim Adi and Alan Rice, and youth worker Kerin Morris will present their views on Manchester’s current review of statues, monuments and other items. Among the many groups this is relevant to, it will be of particular interest for those engaged in Manchester anti-racism efforts. The registration link to attend these online public discussion events is www.manchesterpublicrealm.eventbrite.co.uk .
Manchester residents are encouraged to democratically influence how people, movements and events are represented in their public spaces in a once in a lifetime consultation. If you are a concerned citizen, get involved and complete the survey before 22nd March at www.manchester.gov.uk/publicspaces .
How does climate change affect DR Congo and the chain of migration, what is the colonial context for this and what does it mean for how both People Of Colour and Europeans understand Climate Change and Justice? The video recording of the discussion that took place on 12 November 2020 is now available to view.
Alex Randall, Emmanuela Yogolelo and Kooj Chuhan (chair) online in discussion
The People’s History Museum (PHM) has a series of monthly ‘Radical Late’ sessions at 6pm, the November 2020 event was dedicated to the subject of Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo. Led by artist-activist Kooj Chuhan the online session included thought-provoking discussions with researcher-writer Alex Randall along with Emmanuela Yogolelo about the ways in which colonialism, conflict, race and migration connect with climate change, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and people arriving from there to the UK. The evening also included a pre-recorded performance by Samuella Ganda from Amani Creatives.
Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo – video of the online discussion:
About the speakers at Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo:
Kooj Chuhan Kooj (Kuljit Singh) Chuhan is the Director of Crossing Footprints, an organisation connecting creativity with issues of human rights, environment and wellbeing. As a digital artist, filmmaker and creative producer, Kooj artistically interweaves racial justice with climate change. He is also the founding member of artist collective Virtual Migrants. Kooj has won an award for digital arts connecting refugees with climate change, and curated the exhibition ‘Footprint Modulation’ on climate migration across five venues in Durham. Other work includes ‘Chamada From Chico Mendes’ interactive art combining documentary, poetry and sound from across the world, and ‘Buy This’ a two screen interactive video installation connecting over consumption, human displacement and environmental destruction.
Alex Randall Alex is the Programme Manager for both Climate Outreach and the Climate and Migration Coalition; a network of refugee and migration Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working together on issues around climate change. Alex was lead author on the Moving Stories report, which explores the real lives of people displaced by climate linked disasters. He has written frequently for The Guardian newspaper and other outlets on climate change and migration.
Emmanuela Yogolelo Emmanuela is a singer-songwriter, music facilitator, cultural leader and producer originally from the world’s second largest tropical rain forest, the Congo basin. Her interest in climate justice activism started when she was commissioned by HOME in Manchester to create and perform a new interactive performance as part of the annual Horizons Festival. She chose to use her personal experience of climate change as a refugee and third world citizen to create an interactive performance.
Samuella Ganda Samuella is a singer-songwriter, plays piano and has written a song about climate change. She is one of the upcoming and talented young musicians in Manchester’s local African community, who are provided with artistic and professional development support from Amani Creatives, an African led arts organisation based in Manchester.
Samuella Ganda Samuella is a singer-songwriter, plays piano and has written a song about climate change. She is one of the upcoming and talented young musicians in Manchester’s local African community, who are provided with artistic and professional development support from Amani Creatives, an African led arts organisation based in Manchester.
A thought provoking discussion exploring the topic of Climate Migration and DR Congo, illustrated with music performed online. An event exploring the ways in which colonialism, conflict, race and migration connect with climate change, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and people arriving from there to the UK.
Thursday 12 November 2020, 6pm – 8pm (GMT)
How does climate change affect DR Congo and the chain of migration, what is the colonial context for this and what does it mean for how both People Of Colour and Europeans understand Climate Change / Justice?
The first event involving Crossing Footprints since we have now just begun operation as a CIC, in collaboration with Amani Creatives and the Radical Lates programme of People’s History Museum (PHM). The event involves a brief performance by singer-songwriters Emmanuela Yogolelo and Samuella Ganda, and a key discussion with Kooj Chuhan from Crossing Footprints and Alex Randall from the Climate and Migration Coalition.
Led by artist-activist Kooj Chuhan, the discussion will include researcher-writer Alex Randall along with Emmanuela Yogolelo for a thought provoking discussion about the ways in which colonialism, conflict, race and migration connect with climate change, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and people arriving from there to the UK. Emmanuela Yogolelo and Samuella Ganda will creatively engage the audience in a conversation about climate justice activism, using music and other art forms to narrate their opinions.
About the speakers at Climate Migration and DR Congo:
Emmanuela Yogolelo Emmanuela is a singer-songwriter, music facilitator, cultural leader and producer originally from the world’s second largest tropical rain forest, the Congo basin. Her interest in climate justice activism started when she was commissioned by HOME in Manchester to create and perform a new interactive performance as part of the annual Horizons Festival. She chose to use her personal experience of climate change as a refugee and third world citizen to create an interactive performance.
Samuella Ganda Samuella is a singer-songwriter, plays piano and has written a song about climate change. She is one of the upcoming and talented young musicians in Manchester’s local African community, who are provided with artistic and professional development support from Amani Creatives, an African led arts organisation based in Manchester.
Alex Randall Alex is the Programme Manager for both Climate Outreach and the Climate and Migration Coalition; a network of refugee and migration Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working together on issues around climate change. Alex was lead author on the Moving Stories report, which explores the real lives of people displaced by climate linked disasters. He has written frequently for The Guardian newspaper and other outlets on climate change and migration.
Kooj Chuhan Kooj (Kuljit Singh) Chuhan is the Director of Crossing Footprints, an organisation connecting creativity with issues of human rights, environment and wellbeing. As a digital artist, filmmaker and creative producer, Kooj artistically interweaves racial justice with climate change. He is also the founding member of artist collective Virtual Migrants. Kooj has won an award for digital arts connecting refugees with climate change, and curated the exhibition Footprint Modulation on climate migration across five venues in Durham. Other work includes Chamada From Chico Mendes, interactive art combining documentary, poetry and sound from across the world, and Buy This, a two screen interactive video installation connecting over consumption, human displacement and environmental destruction.
A new music and multimedia performance raises the bar against the anti-human rights and anti-migration agenda hoisted onto Brexit. Viva Declaration! uses global jazz music with live mixed video to evocatively remind us of how important our human rights are. Created and performed by film and digital media artist Kooj Chuhan and the multi-instrumentalist composer Tagné Tebu, it focuses on the story of migration from ancient history to the present day.
The live show takes place at the People’s History Museum (PHM) on Saturday 22nd February at 2pm to launch their year-long programme of activity around migration. At the heart of the Viva Declaration! project is a strong message about human rights, that they are vital and that they should not be watered down. This is the potential scenario now that we have left the EU as was recently asserted loud and clear by Boris Johnson’s new Attorney General, Suella Braverman.
In Humanity art installation and exhibition 1st – 23rd February 2020 at People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3ER
+ ARTISTS’ TALK AND GUIDED TOUR by Kooj Chuhan @ 2pm on Saturday 1st Feb.
In Humanity asks how far do we treat people needing refuge in humanity and with care? The UK is the only place in Europe with no time limit on detention. Nearly 30,000 people are locked up each year most of whom are eventually released, this is a shameful civil rights abuse that cannot be ignored.
By artist and film-maker Kooj Chuhan in collaboration with These Walls Must Fall and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, including soundtrack fragments by musician and composer Tagné Tebu. In Humanity is part of the Declaration project by Metaceptive.
Respected activist Viraj Mendis, video and music artists Tagné+Kooj and playwright-poet Louise Wallwein MBE are on the bill at a unique event to support migration justice on 25th September 2019 in Manchester.
Justice, Rights and Resistance
at Partisan, 19 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M4 4FY Doors open 6.30pm / event runs 7pm-9.30pm Food and refreshments will be available to buy Tickets £8 / £5 / Pay-what-you-can
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) mark their 30th birthday with this event looking back over their 30 years of delivering Justice, Rights and Resistance. Among the performances, speakers and discussion the event will feature a special performance of ‘Declaration’ by Kooj Chuhan and Tagné Tebu. Combining live music and projected visuals, they have collaborated with GMIAU and These Walls Must Fall to create this emotive work (more info below). The event will look back on successful campaigns against racist immigration policies and discuss future challenges in the continued fight for immigration justice.
Before talking about Transnational Justice let’s first remember the obvious, simply that we are ruled by laws. So the major kinds of injustice in the world must need to be addressed in partnership with progressive sectors of legal theory and practice. This is something which us creative activists do too little of.
Last month I was presenting the work I do at a very worthwhile conference on political and legal justice connecting with environment, economy, health, migration, equality, activism and arts, the Transnational Law Summit at King’s College London. More info about this is at www.transnationallawsummit.org .
Keynote presenters included Nobel peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Dexter Dias QC. Panel presenters like myself included the well known ecoliteracy guru Fritjof Capra, Nick Flynn from Avaaz and Jannie Staffansson from the Saami Council. Well funded (and equally well dressed) the conference had the air of being high profile with the strong intention of supporting justice for the future.
Transnational Justice – game-change for climate justice?
I’m not going to attempt a full review or critique of the conference, but the session I found really compelling was titled ‘Climate Change and Court Rooms’. Was this the beginning of major shifts in reparatory forces to gain justice for damage to communities and to counter climate change? Continue reading →
‘The Poppy Retake’ video art installation by Kuljit ‘Kooj’ Chuhan is the focus for a new short film about the upcoming Manchester World War I exhibition titled World War I’s Hidden Voices which launches on Weds 6th December 2017 at the amazing Central Library building in the heart of Manchester.
‘The Poppy Retake’ is partnering with the extensive ‘From The Shadows Of War And Empire’ set of educational graphic panels by Southern Voices to create the exhibition, which runs from 7th December 2017 – 24th February 2018. Key details below: Continue reading →
At the exhibition launch of World War I’s Hidden Voices (6th December – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER) the Manchester actress Rani Moorthy will perform a dramatised reading of a powerful poem reflecting on the effects of the First World War from an Indian and colonised country perspective. She will be accompanied by musician Jaydev Mistry and also VJ projections by Kuljit ‘Kooj’ Chuhan. The poem is by Sarojini Naidu and is titled The Gift Of India, written in 1915 while the war was ravaging.
The exhibition features The Poppy Retake art installation by Kooj Chuhan, the launch event will be on Weds 6th December from 5.30pm and the performance and speakers begin at 6.30pm. More information at www.metaceptive.net/poppy-retake . The event is free but registration is strongly advised at www.hiddenvoicesww1.eventbrite.co.uk . #poppyretake
About Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter and one of the great orators of her time. She was famously known as Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India) and was a prolific poet with over three books of published poems, highly praised by Rabindranath Tagore. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India. Continue reading →
India, Africa, the West Indies, colonialism and recruitment, impacts of war and our ongoing culture of war explored in two parallel exhibitions under the title World War One’s Hidden Voices
The Poppy Retake (v3) by Kooj Chuhan // From the Shadows of War and Empire by Southern Voices // #poppyretake
On show 7th December 2017 – 24th February 2018 at Manchester Central Library (First Floor), St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD, UK // Opening times 9am-8pm Mon-Thurs and 9am-5pm Fri-Sat (Sunday closed) Tel. +44 (0)161 234 1983
OPENING NIGHT – 6th December 2017 5.30pm-7.30pm including speakers Ahmed El-Hassan (Southern Voices) and Colette Williams (Mbari), plus live performance from Jaydev Mistry (music), Rani Moorthy (dramatised readings) and Kuljit ‘Kooj’ Chuhan (VJ projection) // First Floor exhibition from 5.30pm, then speakers and performance from 6.30pm on Ground Floor Booking for this free event is strongly advised: www.hiddenvoicesww1.eventbrite.co.uk
MINI-CONFERENCE – 10th February 2018
thought-provoking talks, workshops, films and discussion for World War One’s Hidden Voices– full details to be announced www.metaceptive.net/poppy-retake
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THE POPPY RETAKE (v3)
…colonial narratives, spirits from the dead and video war games…
video art installation by Kooj (Kuljit Singh Chuhan) – new version
Modern war propaganda began with World War I which obscured its pointlessness and deep colonial connections, while pretending to be the ‘war to end all wars’. This artwork explores coercion into war, involving an African woman working for a war-themed park. She finds herself caught between colonial narratives, spirits from the dead and video war games.
Since the end of WWI we have seen numerous wars with the majority in regions once colonised. Modern video gaming is now the epitome of obscuring both the horror and the colonial roots of much conflict. The Poppy Retake suggests our multiple connections with wars as forms of cultural recruitment but which impact mostly on people from ex-colonies. It extends the perspectives developed in the documentary exhibition ‘From The Shadows Of War and Empire’. Continue reading →
