The 1884 Blues (clip)

In 1884 the leaders of European powers convened in Berlin, Germany with the purpose of parceling out the African continent into colonies that they would govern, and from which they would extract copious resources. The repercussions of this undertaking deeply resonated at the nation state level on both continents. This video explores the objectification of the African body under the weight of white supremacist thinking. At the same time I identify Africa’s subjugation as an inescapable factor that has shaped my own destiny.

Influenced by the recent cinematic release of Jordan Peele’s film, Get Out, I have offered my take on the voyeuristic nature of the covetous white gaze and its persistence in controlling the narrative and attempted outcome of subjugation.

Digital HD running time 3:18 minutes
David Ofori Zapparoli