Join us for a special co-hosted event where you can handle African objects from Manchester Museums, Living Cultures collection that explores narratives on spirituality through the lens of recovery.
The complexity of the world and our place within it can often feel overwhelming. Our belief in a higher power and need for spiritual nourishment, be that the universe, mother nature or religion can feel ever more pressing. Sometimes described as “the hole in the soul” spirituality when absent, can for some lead to substance use issues.
“Craving for alcohol was the equivalent on a low level of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness” Carl Jung on addiction.
The cultural use of psychoactive substances for ancestor worship, and religious or spiritual purposes in indigenous cultures within the African and black diaspora has long been known. Believed by many to facilitate increased connection to a power greater than themselves. This set against a Western model of recreational and often problematic use. Contemporary thinking now also looks to psychoactive substances.
Ordinarily confined to the museum basement this African, objects handling event offers you a rare chance to see and touch cultural heritage objects that have been used for spiritual purposes. Objects become even more extraordinary when they connect with people, and with our imagination, collectively helping us to create new connections, meanings and knowledge.
The event’s conversational outcomes will help reimagine the Museum’s collection and initiate a 12-month community conversation on psychoactive substances, spirituality and the African and Black Diaspora. The project’s future artistic outcomes will be showcased as part of Recoverist Month, in September 2025.
Dr. Njabulo Chipangura is the Curator of Living Cultures at Manchester Museum and will lead on the day, engagement helping build on the provenance and biographical research on African collections with colonial contexts being undertaken.
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Date and time: Saturday, September 14 · 2 – 4pm GMT+1
Location: Manchester Museum, Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL