Melancholia Africana: Loss Mourning and Survival in Africa and the Diaspora

Traditional beliefs, historical and cultural circumstances construct how the African understands himself/herself in relation to the world. From this construction resonates a theme of loss - loss of land; of freedom; of language; of self. Melancholia Africana incorporates loss but moreover, grapples with the external world. We will explore ways in which literature, film and music portray loss, resilience and survival.