Angelique Golding preparing archive materials for the library exhibition at Mile End Library.
Wasafiri is an international new writing magazine based at Queen Mary and this year they celebrate their 40th anniversary of encouraging readers and writers to travel the world via the word. A new exhibition exploring the Wasafiri archive opens at Queen Mary Mile End Library on 7th October 2024.
In an exclusive interview, Angelique Golding, curator of the Wasafiri Archive Exhibition, shares insights into the inspiration and challenges behind the exhibition, which celebrates 40 years of Wasafiri championing diverse voices in literature.
She explains that the exhibition’s theme draws on Wasafiri’s deep-rooted connections to education, which stem from its founding editor, Dr. Susheila Nasta's involvement with ATCAL, an organization dedicated to promoting Caribbean, African, and Asian literature in British classrooms. "The connection with education has always been there," said Golding, emphasizing Wasafiri’s pivotal role in elevating marginalized authors.
Curating the exhibition posed its own challenges. Much of the Wasafiri archive is housed at the British Library, and obtaining physical items within tight timelines was difficult. "The timing was a challenge," Golding explained, but collaboration with the British Library enabled the use of photographs and other materials to bring the exhibition’s vision to life.
In addition to supporting the Mile End exhibition, the British Library will host its own dedicated Wasafiri 40th Anniversary event on 17th October 2024. This event, featuring short talks by British Library curator Helen Melody and Angelique Golding, will explore the magazine’s trajectory, its archival materials, and its continued influence on the global literary landscape. Attendees will also hear from Sana Goyal, current Editor and Publishing Director, and gain insights into Wasafiri’s historical and academic significance.
Golding hopes the exhibition will heighten awareness of the significance of BAME literature in reshaping the British literary canon. "I want visitors to see how integral Wasafiri has been in championing this literature," she remarked.
“The main crux of the exhibition is to highlight the importance of archiving and what a rich repository it can be to both inform and reveal important histories and stories that are often forgotten, overlooked, or obscured,” Golding added, emphasising the exhibition’s focus on preserving literary heritage.
The exhibition is part of Wasafiri’s broader 40th anniversary celebrations, which include dedicated events at the British Library this October. Golding expressed her pride in the project, saying, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the vision come to life.”
The Wasafiri Archive Exhibition continues at Queen Mary’s Mile End Library, while the British Library event takes place on Thurs 17th Oct at 10am. Tickets for the British Library event can be booked here.
Additionally, an upcoming event at BLOC on 20th November 2024 will feature Angelique Golding in conversation with Sana Goyal and Susheila Nasta, reflecting on 40 years of Wasafiri. Tickets for this event can be found here.
The QM Centre for Creative Collaboration is proud to partner with Wasafiri on their 40th Anniversary Exhibition, supporting them to expand their outreach and preserve the cultural legacy of this important literary magazine.