02/05/2026
TODAY ➡️: On behalf of the Department of French and Italian, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and the entire School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Maryland, it is my pleasure to invite you to a truly unique event we are hosting.
On Thursday, February 5, from 4-6pm, we will welcome award winning documentary filmmaker Fred Kudjo Kuwornu for a screening of his film We Were Here: The Untold Story of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. The film brings to light the often-overlooked presence of African and Black individuals in Renaissance Europe, examining how they were depicted in some of the era’s most celebrated works of art and questioning long-held assumptions about race, status and representation in European history.
Through a compelling blend of archival research, expert commentary, and close visual analysis of Renaissance paintings and sculpture, We Were Here offers a critical reexamination of European art history and its cultural legacy. The documentary features insights from leading scholars in art history, Black studies and history, alongside curators and cultural activists, creating a layered and interdisciplinary perspective on a neglected chapter of the past.
Following the screening, guests are invited to attend a reception and participate in a filmmaker-led discussion and Q&A with Fred Kudjo Kuwornu. This event provides a unique opportunity to engage with the film’s themes, explore the research and creative process behind the project, and reflect on the broader questions of race, identity, and historical memory raised by the documentary.
We warmly invite you to join us for this event and extend the invitation to your wider circles. The talk will be held in the Language House Multipurpose Room in St.Mary’s Hall (enter on the patio side facing the library). Parking in numbered campus lots is typically free after 4 (make sure to check signs), or you can park in the Union Lane Garage across the street from St. Mary’s.
