A Diaspora Situation: The Americas and the Caribbean: A Symposium – 2023
Returning to SOAS, part three of the Symposium focused on the exterior picture – Black, Afro-descendant and African heritage communities within the Americas and the Caribbean. For the first part of the day, perspectives were provided by Carmen Freeman, Alicia DeLarge and KiKi Gilbert (North American Picture, moderated by Weyland McKenzie-Witter), Isaiah Springer and Destinie Paige (Central and South American Picture, moderated by Kandre Arámidẹ Hassan) and Leah Trotman, Dr Kesewa John and Harielle Atana-Lindor (Caribbean Picture, moderated by JK Abuah).
Understanding that Pan-Africanism as an idea was cultivated by the diaspora, we cannot understand the various linkages, histories and futures without including the diaspora. Strands of Pan-Africanism are not just reduced to the continent/landmass. Edward pointed the audience to ask, what role does the diaspora play, if any? Is a departure back to the landmass possible? Does it matter?
A Discourse on Spaces – 2022
Invited by the Garden Museum, Edward hosted a series of talks centred around his 2021 short essay, “Where did the space go?“. What is the importance of space to humanity? How do the spaces that we inhabit define us? What happens to these spaces when different worlds collide?
In London, intersections and cultural exchange place the city in an ever-evolving state of hybridity. No two streets are quite the same. This reflective series, influenced by the contributions of the Sowing Roots exhibition, explored gentrification, immortality, conflict, heritage, sustainability and the movement amongst peoples through a plethora of stories, conversations and perspectives.
Edward would later continue this stream of thinking during his presentation at Jane Jacobs Day in May 2023. What is wrong with using an old school building as a housing project? Or a church as a museum? Opting towards a greener, sustainable London, Edward emphasised the importance of reworking London’s existing buildings amid an age of high-rises, coworking spaces, and pop-ups that fail to serve the interests of the community around them. Click here to see the talk.
What is the Continental Agenda: A Symposium – 2022
Following the first symposium, Edward took the discourse to the Continent of Africa and its various regions. For the first half of the symposium, Omar Cusmaan, Troy Onyango, Emmanuelle Yembe and Dr Ret’sepile Makamane provided contemporary African political, social, historical and economic perspectives. The symposium maintained Africa is not a country, its people are not a monolith and the issues that the continent and its people face vary in so many different ways.
When is the Next Pan-African Conference: A Symposium – 2021
At SOAS, as a member of Tribe Named Athari, Edward tackled a question he posed the organisation’s podcast. When is the next Pan-African Congress? At this symposium, which became a congress of sorts, Edward facilitated a conversation that navigated through the history of the Pan-African Congresses, the connection to the initial conference in 1900 and the current climate of Pan-Africanism as an idea/practice today.
Take and Make with Kitchen Social – 2020
Take & Make Boxes are an innovative new addition to the Kitchen Social programme – designed to help engage children and young people to cook at home. These fun and simple-to-follow recipe videos will show you how to make the meals included in your boxes, and how to get the family involved. Alongside Christina Adane, Edward hosted and delivered 6 episodes, showing young people how to cook cost-effective, nutritious foods. The programme served over 6000 children, 150,000 meals and delivered 218,000 hours of play and learning.
Outside the Comfort Zone – 2019
Directed by Nataša Cordeaux and Cheyenne Ritfield, and produced by Young Creators UK, this short film explores the personal and political challenges of young, migrant Londoners today. Edward was a subject in the documentary, alongside photographer Darren Tsang (aka Humothy)
Edward Adonteng 