On Friday 28th October 2022, we transformed St Mary's Guildhall into a celebration of unity, heritage, and healing. The Umoja Exhibition brought together art, music, poetry, and dance to explore two powerful themes: unsung heroes in Black History, and items in British Museums that are yet to be reunited with their countries of origin.

The Meaning of Umoja

Umoja is a Swahili word meaning "unity". For us, it represents the coming together of people, cultures, and histories—acknowledging the painful parts while celebrating the beautiful ones. It's about finding wholeness in community.

The Exhibition

Our collection featured works from local artists, community members, and collaborative pieces created during our workshops. The art explored:

  • Unsung Heroes: Figures from Black history whose stories deserve to be told—resistance leaders, artists, scientists, and everyday people who made a difference.
  • Reunification: The complex relationship between British museums and artefacts taken during colonial times. Our artists imagined what it might look like for these items to return home.
  • Healing: Personal expressions of what healing means to individuals and communities affected by displacement and historical trauma.

The Performance

The evening came alive with performances that moved between English, Shona, and Ewe. We had:

  • Spoken word poetry exploring identity and belonging
  • Traditional music from Zimbabwe and Ghana
  • Contemporary dance interpreting themes of migration
  • A collaborative piece where audience members joined in

Launching the Umoja Collection

We also launched our Umoja publication, which goes into further detail about the unsung heroes who inspired our work. The collection includes:

  • Biographies of historical figures
  • Poetry and creative writing from community members
  • Artwork reproductions
  • Discussion questions for community groups

What Attendees Said

"I've lived in Coventry for 30 years and never felt so seen. To walk into St Mary's Guildhall—this historic building—and see my culture celebrated on those walls... I cried."

— Grace, attendee

"My daughter performed her first poem that night. She's been writing ever since. The exhibition didn't just show art—it created artists."

— Michael, parent

Looking Forward

The Umoja exhibition was just the beginning. We're now working on taking the collection to other venues and developing educational resources for schools. If you'd like to host the exhibition or get involved in future projects, please contact us.

Photo credits: Coventry City Council Cultural Services