Poet’s rallying cry for recognition of Africa’s importance
BRISTOL poet Dr Lawrence Hoo, pictured, is poised to present a poem calling on people across the city and beyond to embark on a journey of “fairness and respect” to tackle systemic discrimination, advance social justice, and recognise Africa as a leading knowledge powerhouse.
He will read the work tonight at an event organised by the University of Bristol to raise awareness and enlist support for a transformative mission set to champion anti-racism and decolonisation.
Dr Hoo, who received an honorary degree from the university for his pioneering work to educate children about African and African diaspora history, said: “I have to really believe in what I write and this gave me an opportunity to voice what people have told me occurs over many years, but don’t feel able to speak out. It took me a few weeks to write, including research, and the idea we’re all going on a journey came to me in the car. So I pulled over and wrote some of the opening lines on my phone.”
The poem, called ‘A Journey Of Discovery’, highlights “Africa is the cradle of civilisation, the birthplace of humanity that continues to deliver so much, yet there is this disparity…”
It explores how countries have exploited and undervalued Africa’s key contributions and introduces The Africa Charter as a vital movement to redress power imbalances. The charter is described as a: “great opportunity to put effective practices and policies in place that can help to reverse the prejudices caused through the creation of race.”
The event, at the M Shed, unites University of Bristol researchers, including specialists in decolonisation, Africa, anti-racism, and inclusivity in research, with representatives from communities across the city and the Higher Education sector. It aims to “capture the charter’s local relevance and implications, establishing Bristol as a model and champion for its principles and objectives”.
It believes pressing issues which affect local and international communities alike, including climate change, pandemics and poverty, will be addressed more effectively if Africa is able to take a more prominent role in global transdisciplinary research.