Slavery is often discussed as history. In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World asks what happens when we consider it as something that continues to shape the present.

Developed by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this major international exhibition arrives in Cape Town following presentations in Washington and Brazil. Bringing together historical objects, contemporary artworks, film, oral histories and immersive installations, it examines how communities across the African Diaspora have navigated the long aftermath of slavery and the ongoing pursuit of freedom.

Rather than presenting a single historical narrative, the exhibition traces connections across continents and generations. It considers how the legacies of slavery continue to influence questions of identity, belonging, race, memory and social justice, while highlighting the many ways Black communities have resisted, rebuilt and imagined new futures.

One of the exhibition’s central installations is Universe of Freedom-making by artist Daniel Minter. Designed as a space for reflection and imagination, the large-scale work explores the diverse ways freedom has been understood, claimed and practised across different communities and histories.

Another key component is Unfinished Conversations, an oral history project featuring filmed interviews with descendant communities. Through personal accounts and shared memories, participants reflect on slavery’s enduring presence in contemporary life, creating a powerful dialogue between past and present.

What distinguishes In Slavery’s Wake is its broad, international perspective. Developed through collaboration between museums, researchers and cultural institutions around the world, the exhibition places local histories within a wider global story, revealing how experiences of displacement, resilience and freedom remain deeply interconnected.

For South African audiences, the exhibition offers an opportunity to consider the ways global histories of slavery intersect with the continent’s own experiences of colonialism, inequality and liberation. Rather than looking backwards alone, In Slavery’s Wake asks how understanding the past might help shape a more equitable future.

More than a historical exhibition, it is an invitation to think about memory, justice and freedom as living questions that continue to resonate today.