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“In the past we had other people writing our History and today we are writing our own …”
Zimbabwean curator Raphael Chikukwa has been on a journey of discovery for IWM North across eastern and southern Africa uncovering the forgotten stories of African veterans – known in Africa as ‘heroes’. Both an exploration of family history (Raphael’s father served in Burma in the Second World War and his grandfather served in the First World War), and other previously untold stories of Afrikan Heroes, Raphael interviewed veterans and visited war graves across Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia. Their stunning portraits and personal stories create a unique and personal view of African participation in the Second World War. They are a reminder of how war shapes lives and the hidden histories among the people around us. During the Second World War forces from the Empire and Commonwealth were involved in campaigns across Southern & Western Europe, the Mediterranean, North and East Africa, South East Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, in the air and all the major oceans of the world, as well as working tirelessly on the home front. Their contribution played a major part in the Allied victories. Forces from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Tanganyika (now Tanzania) served in the East African Divisions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Others served in all branches of the British Armed Forces and others produced large amounts of goods and raw materials for the war effort. In 1943 and 1944, African troops of the East and West African divisions were sent to South East Asia to fight the Japanese. The African soldiers fought alongside other Empire and Commonwealth troops in the jungles of Burma. In January 1944, troops from the Royal West African Frontier Force were one of the first Allied units to force Japanese soldiers to surrender. African troops were excellent jungle fighters and were feared by the Japanese. Nearly 120,000 African troops served in South East Asia. EXTENDED INFORMATION Raphael Chikukwa is one of Africa’s leading young curators and his last work in Manchester and the UK was as the curator of the acclaimed exhibition Visions of Zimbabwe at Manchester Art Gallery in 2005. While in Manchester in 2002, he visited Imperial War Museum North where he saw film of African troops in Burma. This reminded him of his father’s service in the Second World War and his grandfather’s service in the First World War. “This project means a lot to me and to the Afrikan people at large. During my O Level Studies in Zimbabwe we studied European History. The contribution of Afrikans towards the First and Second World Wars was not mentioned at all and even today very little is known about them fighting for the Empire. Today I am happy that they are telling their story and that as the son of a veteran that I am doing it for them. These are some of the Forgotten Heroes of the Commonwealth telling their stories. The recognition by Imperial War Museum North, for us as Afrikans, to rewrite our own History is very important to all of us. In the past we have seen the West writing about us and now its high time we as Afrikans write our own History. This is a new chapter about the contributions of Afrikans towards the First and Second World Wars .’ Raphael Chikukwa July 2006 • Photographs are by Andrew Chirenje and film by Marslyn Nyangoni. BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM NORTH. FREE. Studio talks, short film screenings and music performances linked to the WaterWay display Moving Pictures: Afrikan Heroes of the Second World War Studio Talk: Meeting Afrikan Heroes Moving Pictures: When We Went to War Studio Talk: Black in the Union Jack Talking Pictures – Meet the Curator Moving Pictures: Commonwealth Contributions Music Box: Paradise Steel Band Music Box: Paradise Steel Band Music Box: Izinyane Lesilo Cultural Group - Zimbabwean a cappella performances. Moving Pictures: Commonwealth Contributions | Related Links
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