CHICAGO — From Wednesday to Saturday, various cultural institutions across Chicago are joining forces for “Panafrica Across Chicago,” a citywide project exploring Pan-Africanism as a political movement through art, discussions, film screenings, and more.
The four-day event kicks off with a day-long symposium at the Art Institute of Chicago, featuring speakers like Ebony Patterson, Huey Copeland, and Kodwo Eshun. The symposium will delve into the concept of Pan-Africanism and its significance in the diaspora.
Pan-Africa Days is linked to a multi-year research project sponsored by the Neubauer Collegium, which has studied Pan-Africanism around the world. This research informed the Art Institute’s exhibit “Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica,” which showcases 350 pieces from various mediums.
The event will take place at locations across Chicago and Evanston, including the Arts Club of Chicago, Urban Growers Collective, and the Neubauer Collegium. Highlights include exhibitions by Jamaican artist Betye Saar and Kenyan American artist Wangechi Mutu, as well as a discussion about the legacies of the Black Panther Party.
Pan-Africanism is a school of thought that recentered Blackness and Africa as guiding forces, uniting people across the diaspora. It advocates for self-awareness, solidarity, and emancipation among Black people globally. The movement’s globality will be brought to Chicago through Panafrica Days, which spotlights 80 living artists and connects Chicago’s institutions and thinkers.
This event serves as a linchpin, connecting Chicago’s past and present. By exploring Pan-Africanism, the project aims to showcase the diversity of Black experiences in Chicago and beyond.
Source: https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/03/04/panafrica-across-chicago-citywide-art-project-lets-chicagoans-explore