On 24 November Oluwafemi reads the story of Lauren
Oluwafemi Hughes
“REVIVAL and Grandmothers – A Divine Intervention (2016)”,
Open event, £10 for employed, £5 non-salaried, free entrance to unemployed. Donations to a children’s charity (Act for Change)
Please register in advance by email: info AT benedictine-institute DOT org
Storytelling has a beginning inside and outside. One needs to have a narrative that belongs to her cultural traditions, a people with a history and a voice. One needs a person who is the author of her own story, a map of a place she belongs to, someone who has a self that is free from another’s definition of what and who she is. How does one make sense of a self or the world when stories of one’s ancestors were of strange barbarians with eyes in their stomachs, who ate others, who were, early European’s decided, non human, sub humans, who apparently, had no history before that fated meeting.
Oluwafemi Hughes and storytelling
To begin to write, I needed to be free. Free from a ghost, a barely audible whisper that clouded my first 40 and more years – a whisper that became the air I breathed, had pervaded my inner world. A ‘mental slavery’ mirroring, what had been and something yet to be undone. For the ghost of slavery had not been exorcised in me or in the world. It had taken almost a lifetime to convert the murmuring whisper that dominated my world over this time into a coherent mantra:
Storytelling in the context of church’s work “on healing history”
Oluwafemi reads the story of Lauren’s childhood, survival, reflection, maturation.
‘Living and non-living in a Scottish Catholic Institution’ 1952 – 1962.
She conveys the devastating impact of children barely existing in the punitive regime – and its aftermath. And the on going striving to restore life and hope.
Purpose of this Storytelling
A facilitated process with (Deep Democracy facilitators) (DDF) Provide an opportunity for anyone as a worker or citizens interested: In dignity and care of children
To listen, respond, explore and deepen understanding and knowledge of diversity issues and the impacts on children into adulthood. To support awareness of social justice
For supporting lasting and hopeful environments in which our children and future generations can thrive.
About Oluwafemi Hughes
Turbulent years left their scars and helped Oluwafemi gain invaluable insight. Writing helps Femi to reclaim and honour what was unheard and has also developed a wider perspective of various sides of the issues.
For 30 years Oluwafemi worked as Diversity and Conflict Resolution Facilitator and a Counsellor. Previously, aged 15, she lived and worked for 15 years in an all white working class community, in factories as a sewing machinist. Before becoming a mature student.
Oluwafemi Hughes is a Brighton-based poet, writer and sometime storyteller. Born of a Nigerian Father and Indian mother, she was brought up in Scotland.
Each day begins with a shared lunch at 1pm and a facilitated storytelling from 2 to 5pm
MARCH 24 Journey of 3 generations: Kathy Mahon (2015)
APRIL 21 Lauren’s arrival: Rupture and Exile (1952)
MAY 19 Singing About Troubled Waters (1952-62)
JUNE 23 Prayer in the Dark – In nomine Patris
JULY 21 Starless and Bible Black –
SEPT 22 Re-entry: My Spotless White Apron (1963)
NOV 10 My Frozen fingers (1967 -1972
NOV 24 Revival and Grandmothers: A Divine Intervention 2016
2019 FEB Reflections: Ghosts of History and Restoration (2017)
MARCH
edited JL 10 November 2018