we grapple with the double-bind of the archive—including public (colonial) records, private collections and oral repositories—its sheer terror and possibility, the grave potential for ethical indeterminacy, the inextricable co-mingling of violence and the soft ripples of care.
without taking the archive, or history, by definition or relevance, for granted, we pose another problem: “where might we find the littoral in all of this?”
the following is a gathering of images, clips, audio, fragments, etc., that engage with the littoral zones of the black atlantic, whether on the west african coast or the diaspora.
if you come across any material that might be of interest, or if you would like for us to take down any of these, please feel free to contact us here! Bâ, Alioune
Untitled, 1997 © Alioune Bâ Barnor, James
Boats on Accra Beach, 1950 © James Barnor Barnor, James
Unloading Flour, James Town Harbour, Accra, 1955 © James Barnor Barnor, James
A Party Organised for Drum, Chorkor Beach, Accra, 1950 © James Barnor Barnor, James
Dancing on the beach, Ghana, 1970s © James Barnor
Barnor, James
Harbour Boat Race During Independence Celebrations at Accra Beach, 6 March 1957 © James Barnor
Enwonwu, Ben
Ije Village, 1971 © Yemisi Shyllon Museum Cissé, Mamadou
A Group of People at the Beach, Mali, 1971 © Mamadou Cissé Green, Jonathan A.
View across a river of a settlement of thatched shelters. Boat with roofing suspended from pole moored beside settlement. Six adult males in boat, wearing shirts. Adults standing beside shelters on land, looking at photographer. Medium: Albumen print. 1895-1905 © The Trustees of the British Museum