The Sankofa bird

The exhibition logo is inspired by the mythical Sankofa bird, which is a cultural symbol of the Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana in West Africa.

The Sankofa bird strides confidently forward while turning its head back to look in the direction from which it has come. It symbolises the Akan peoples’ belief that we must understand and learn from the past if we are to move successfully into the future.

Like the Sankofa bird, this exhibition hopes to encourage people to learn about their past in order to better understand the present and meet the challenges of the future. The long history of Europeans’ enslavement of millions of Africans has left many bitter legacies of prejudice, poverty and resentment. Until we come to know that history well, we cannot begin to comprehend or heal the pain it has left behind.