The Message

23^rd August Slavery Remembrance Day at the National Maritime Museum

performance, music, dance, history, workshops

11.00 – 16.00

Free

All ages welcome

Join us in marking an important historical moment and to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of the people of Haiti who began their fight for freedom on this day in 1791.

The successful uprising by enslaved Africans on that island played a pivotal role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade

Discover how this event changed world history and helped to shape modern Britain. Remember together – the Message

Find the Message in live performance, poetry, workshops, music, dance, story-telling and talks on rare historic objects.

Be part of this day of remembrance in the unique setting of the National Maritime Museum.

For further details of all events, please visit nmm.ac.uk/23 August

Session details:

The Message: young people’s workshops

National Maritime Museum’s Youth Advisory Group are inviting young people to take part in discussions, creative activities and dance to discover our shared history and express their ideas. They will be working with a professional dancer, Temujin Gill, to facilitate the sessions.

The workshop will look at the role of active resistance in the history of the Haitian Revolution. Explore various methods of resistance, particularly music and dance, culture and language.

The workshop is open for young people, aged 13-19 years old. No previous experience of the transatlantic slavery or dance is necessary. The young people can sign up by emailing [log in to unmask] and book a space in the free workshop. There will also be tickets available on the day, which can be collected in person.

Songs of Freedom: workshop

Music is ‘the language that everyone understands’. Join Ethnovox in exploring what happens when the message in the music is not as obvious as it seems. Join in this participatory singing event and discover how songs can be used as a powerful medium of resistance whilst bringing about a message of solidarity, hope and freedom that can change the world.

All ages and abilities welcome.

Tracing History: archive session

Join S.I.Martin and Mike Bevan in investigating transatlantic slavery through rare and revealing manuscripts. Unlock the messages these documents can tell us of enslaved people and their struggles for freedom.

Suitable for ages 10+ years

Free tickets available on the day. Limited entry

Entendre: Queen’s House tour

The Queens House holds the National Maritime Museums art collection which is steeped in the history and memories of England's monarchs in a maritime past.  Or does it? Are there other histories that have yet to be unlocked in this historic house? On the 23rd August we invite you to explore the hidden histories of collections and truly global impacts this remarkable date in history.

Suitable for 14+ years

The Power of Poetry workshop

Can poetry pack a punch? Can messages move the masses? They certainly can and David Neita has designed a workshop to do just that! Explore the various ways in which poetry can be used to express personal reflections on the history of the Haitian Revolution. Hear some of David's witty yet insightful works and add your own poetic pen to this commemorative event.

Suitable for ages 10+

The Message is the Music : Interactive talk

Mykaell Riley brings a musicologist’s perspective to the history of resistance. Hear the music that challenged the confines of the past and has continued to inspire the message in the music today.

Suitable for ages 10+

Holding history: gallery session

Cultural resistance to enslavement took many forms. Explore various cultural expressions further with a guided object handling session.

Suitable for ages 10+ years?

Haiti: revolution, money and power: Performance

Find out about the price of Haiti's liberty in an engaging and thought-provoking performance devised by Talawa Young People's Theatre.

Suitable for 10+ years

Anansi stories: from West Africa to the Caribbean

Go on a musical story adventure with Winston Nzinga to hear about the cheeky antics of Anansi the Spider and discover the moral behind the story. These stories were brought to the Caribbean by enslaved West African people through the transatlantic slave trade and were re-created by Enid Blyton in the B’rer rabbit stories from the African traditions. Come and find out more.

Suitable for under 5s

For more information please contact Andrea Cunningham at [log in to unmask].

Best,

Ruth