John Akomfrah

A celebrated artist, filmmaker, lecturer, and writer, John Akomfrah, OBE, explores the complexities of the African Diaspora in Europe through his lush, lyrical films. He is considered a seminal figure in black British film. Among his numerous awards is the Taipei Golden Lion. He is particularly interested in highlighting the individuals affected by the Diaspora and the trauma caused by their displacement. Through his films, Akomfrah aims to fill in what he sees as voids in this history, and he often begins his work with archival research. Among his recent works is Tropikos (2014), a video focused on waterways and their connection to the slave trade. Akomfrah was also one of the co-founders of the Black Audio Film Collective (founded in 1982), which was formed to give other artists the opportunity to realize their projects.