'We Were Here': The untold history of Black Africans in the Renaissance

Join us for a special screening of ‘We Were Here’, the acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Fred Kudjo Kuwornu that uncovers the overlooked presence of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. Through artworks, archival research and conversations with leading scholars, the film challenges long-held assumptions about the period, revealing the diverse roles Black people played as courtiers, diplomats, religious figures, merchants and patrons across Renaissance society.

Following the screening, director Fred Kudjo Kuwornu will be joined in conversation by art historian, author and broadcaster Leslie Primo and historian and author Dr Miranda Kaufmann. Together they will explore the film's themes through the lens of the National Gallery's collection, considering how artists represented Black figures, what these works can tell us about cultural exchange and identity in Renaissance Europe, and how museums are re-examining histories that have often been overlooked.

This thought-provoking evening offers an opportunity to look again at familiar masterpieces, uncover hidden histories and reflect on the ways art shapes our understanding of the past and present.