The Alleynian 710 Summer 2022

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THE ALLEYNIAN 710

Reflecting our roots

BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE THEME OF ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS, AS WELL AS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, SAYS NATHALIE WHITTINGTON

Building on our theme of ‘Adding to History’ from last year’s Black History Month, this year we explored the focus of ‘Ancestors and Descendants’. As the Head of History, Mr O Siochrú, reflected, it is to be hoped that Black History Month will leave us ‘with a fuller sense of who “we” as a community are, by asking where “we”, in all our manifold differences, have come from’. The month started with an energising, uplifting and unforgettable visit from acclaimed recording artist and peace ambassador Emmanuel Jal. He shared historical and cultural information about the ancient African kingdom of Kush and reflected on his own life experience growing up as a child soldier in the war-torn region of South Sudan in the early 1980s. Award-winning theatre director Diane Page visited LitSoc to discuss the South African playwright Athol Fugard’s play Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act , for which her production was awarded the current JMK Award. Some Upper School pupils had the opportunity to see the play at the Orange Tree Theatre and were then able to engage in conversation with Page about the play’s themes, staging, and most importantly the relevance of sharing this with a current London audience.

Artwork – Tom Adair (Year 8)

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