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‘AFRO HAIR: IS a BIG conversation’ by Dr Kerri Akiwowo, Senior Lecturer in Textiles (School Design and Creative Arts) explores Black identities and embodied experiences through the ages told through afro hair narratives and artefacts of Black and mixed heritage communities. The project embodies aspects of Reclaiming Narratives—the theme for Black History Month (BHM) 2024, which seeks to recognise and correct the narratives of Black History and culture. More broadly, the project aims to illuminate a history of afro hair discourses and practices through stories, objects, materials and popular culture, supported by LU Arts. ‘AFRO HAIR…’ follows ‘Black Heritage: Narratives of Diaspora’ launched during BHM 2023. 

Call for contributors

Do you have an AFRO HAIR story to tell, a memory or reflection to share in pictures? Get involved and reclaim the narrative about your Black history, identity and culture. 

The project will be launched online in October 2024 during BHM. An exhibition at Martin Hall Exhibition Space will follow next October during BHM 2025. As part of the 2024 web launch, we are inviting contributions from LU staff, doctoral researchers and UG/PG students from Black and mixed heritage communities. We would like you to submit images accompanied by a short text to feature on the AFRO HAIR project webpage(s).

Selected submissions will be featured online in October and this online gallery will be refreshed over the next 12 months to feature multiple entries leading up to the exhibition. 

Contributors are asked to respond to one or more categories from four main themes: 

• Head coverings (e.g. celebration, restriction, oppression, protection, fashion etc.) 

• Eurocentric (e.g. media, workplace, influence, identity, artificial, celebrity etc.) 

• Hairstyles (e.g. afro, plaits, buns, dreadlocks, cornrow, braids, knots, curls etc.) 

• Paraphernalia (equipment, combs, creams, oils, gels, pictorials, supplies etc.) 

Please use our online form to submit your image(s). Each image will need a caption and an accompanying description, reflection and/or anecdote (no more than 300 words per image), that relates to one or more of the listed themes. Image submissions may be primary source such as personal photographs, drawings/illustrations or artworks of people or objects, for example. Secondary imagery must include a reference or link to the original source.

To submit entries in time for the AFRO HAIR web launch, please complete the online form by Sunday 13 October 2024. The online launch will take place before the end of October 2024. 

If you have any problems with the form, please email us at LUArts@lboro.ac.uk and we will be happy to assist you.