Living Archives: Carnival, Reparations, Memory and Resistance with Afua Cooper

Carnival is more than celebration – it is a living archive.

Behind every costume, rhythm, and procession are histories of resistance, remembrance, and cultural survival that continue to shape Caribbean identities today.
Join acclaimed historian, poet, and scholar Afua Cooper for a thought-provoking seminar exploring Carnival through the lens of hauntology, the ways memory, history, and ancestral presence continue to shape the present.

Together, we’ll examine how Carnival carries histories often absent from official records, preserving cultural knowledge through music, masquerade, movement, and performance.

Together, we’ll explore:

How Carnival serves as a living archive of Black history and cultural memory
The relationship between memory, resistance, and Caribbean identity

How masquerade, music, and performance preserve ancestral knowledge across generations

What Carnival reveals about the ongoing work of remembrance, resilience, and liberation.

Whether you’re an artist, educator, student, researcher, or simply curious about Caribbean history and culture, this seminar invites you to experience Carnival as more than a festival-but as a powerful practice of remembering.

Book your spot now on Wednesday July 29th at 6:30 PM