The First World War was waged between empires that were global in their ambitions and reach. Between 1914 and 1918, millions of African soldiers served in long, colonial campaigns that spanned the whole of the African continent, contributing to victories throughout the First World War.
In addition to this fighting, African soldiers from British, French and Dutch African territories were brought to Europe’s western front, where they lost their lives alongside unknown, unheralded and undocumented carriers. Of the 100,000 deaths among British forces during the East Africa campaign, 90 per cent were porters and 45,000 came from Kenya alone.
Mimesis: African Soldier seeks to commemorate these Africans who fought, served and died during the First World War.
Projected onto three screens and combining mixed archival sources with newly filmed material, artistic reflections and tableaux reconstructions, this groundbreaking work by one of the UK’s most celebrated filmmakers reveals how the conflict shaped the recent history of Africa and the lives of its inhabitants.
In conversation: John Akomfrah and David Olusoga
On Saturday 6 October at 3PM you’ll have the chance to hear artist John Akomfrah in conversation with historian David Olusoga about Akomfrah’s Mimesis: African Soldier. Book your free tickets here.
John Akomfrah - Mimesis: African Soldier
John Akomfrah - Mimesis: African Soldier
