Tradition to vision

Description

Hosted by UWE Bristol's Global Majority Network and the Africa Strategy’s Social and Cultural Engagement strand, we are honoured to host Meskerem Assegued, distinguished curator, anthropologist, writer, and trailblazing African woman leader, for a special Black History Month talk.

As Co-Founder and Director of Zoma Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Meskerem has transformed the cultural and ecological landscape of Africa. Her visionary work integrates art, sustainability, and community, creating spaces that inspire and empower.

Key achievements and recent commissions

• Established Zoma Museum, a unique cultural institution built using earth architecture, indigenous materials, and ecological design.
• Pioneered sustainable architecture with artist Elias Sime, using earth, stone, recycled materials, and vernacular building techniques.
• Curated high-profile exhibitions, bringing Ethiopian and African contemporary art to venues such as the Venice Biennale and the Smithsonian.
• Founded Zoma School, engaging children in art, ecology, agriculture, and indigenous knowledge systems.
• Mentored emerging African artists, elevating new voices into global cultural dialogue.
• Commissioned by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to design Unity Park, a national public garden and cultural park symbolizing openness, unity, and cultural renewal; currently completing another major leisure project at Entoto Park with Elias Sime.

Meskerem stands as a bold example of an African woman reshaping cultural leadership, with a vision rooted in heritage, sustainability, and global resonance.

Join us for an unforgettable presentation celebrating her journey, her work, and the capacity of African women to reimagine art, heritage, and society.

Why Attend

• Gain insight into sustainable, vernacular architecture and ecological design.
• Explore how art and culture can transform communities and national spaces.
• Hear from a globally recognized African leader and visionary cultural practitioner.

Event Timings

16:00 Welcome – Mian Ng, UWE Bristol Lead, Global Partnerships in Social and Cultural Engagement and The Daigo Gambia Project

16:05 Short film – profiling Ethiopian artist Elias Sime and Meskerem Assegued

16:20 Speaker presentation – Meskerem Assegued

17:15 Audience Q&A

17:30 Close