Acknowledgments

Curators, historians, archaeologists, filmmakers, farmworkers, fisherfolk, griots, pastors, sambistas, footballers, educators, and artists from around the world collaborated to create The Unfinished Conversations Series digital archive. As participants, interviewers, coordinators, and documentarians, this diverse group of collaborators shared their expertise to create this new archive.

The Simmons Center acknowledges the generous support of Abrams and Wyncote Foundations, which made The Unfinished Conversations Series possible.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

Iziko Museums of South Africa / South Africa

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Museu Histórico Nacional / Brazil

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The Unfinished Conversations Series Website
  • Editorial Team
    • Anthony Bogues

      Unfinished Conversations Project Director | Inaugural Director, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University

    • Yannick Etoundi

      Unfinished Conversations Graduate Fellow, Researcher, Documentary Project Manager, and Exhibition Curator | Department of the History of Art & Architecture, Brown University

    • Kiku Langford McDonald

      Unfinished Conversations Website Manager | Communications Manager, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University

    • Brian Meeks

      Acting Director (July to December 2025), Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University

    • Karyn Mota

      Unfinished Conversations Website Coordinator (2024) | Department of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, Brown University

    • Sydney Smith

      Unfinished Conversations Website Coordinator | Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University

    • Shana Weinberg

      Unfinished Conversations Project Manager | Associate Director of Public Humanities Programs, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University

  • Production Team
    • Michael Anderson

      Director, Producer | Pass Story of Diaspora Forward Inc.

    • Jake Camara

      President, Founder | Jake & Company

    • Ashley Champagne

      Director | Center for Digital Scholarship, Brown University

    • Chelsea Cumings

      Project Manager | Jake & Company

    • Karen Eberhart

      Head | Collections Services and Metadata, John Hay Library, Brown University

    • Bianca Pallo

      Unfinished Conversations Project Archivist | Brown University Library

    • Sarah Rainwater

      Studio Rainwater

    • Willow Rambert

      Digital Design Director | Studio Rainwater

    • Patrick Rashleigh

      Head of Digital Scholarship Technology Service | Center for Digital Scholarship, Brown University

    • Tarika Sankar

      Project Lead, Digital Humanities Librarian | Center for Digital Scholarship, Brown University

    • Hilary Wang

    • Elizabeth Yalkut

      Technical Lead, Front-end Developer | Center for Digital Scholarship, Brown University

The Unfinished Conversations Series Project
  • Staff, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice
    • Anthony Bogues

    • Sabina Griffin

    • Kiku Langford McDonald

    • Africa Smith

    • Reina Thomas

    • Shana Weinberg

  • Faculty and Staff Partners, Brown UNiversity
    • Prof. Geri Augusto

    • Jennifer Betts

    • Chance Boas

    • Dr. Ashley Champagne

    • Karen Eberhart

    • Joseph Mancino

    • Joseph Meisel

    • Tara Nummedal

    • Bianca Pallo

    • Patrick Rashleigh

    • Maiyah Rivers (2016–2022)

    • Tarika Sankar

    • Amanda Strauss (2019–2024)

    • Khanh Vo

    • Hilary Wang

    • Elizabeth Yalkut

  • Student Research Team, Brown UNiversity
    • zuri arman

    • Victoria Cheff

    • Dr. Sherri Cummings

    • Bridget DeLaney-Hall

    • Yannick Etoundi

    • Daniel Everton

    • Nélari Figueroa Torres

    • Julia Gettle

    • Will Johnson

    • Kennedy Jones

    • Dr. Marie Larose

    • Gustav Lloyd Hall

    • Karyn Mota

    • Dr. Anni Pullagura

    • Dillon Christophe Stone

    • Laura Tamayo

    • Malcolm Thomas

    • Susana Turbay

  • Staff, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
    • Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III

    • Dorey Butter

    • Dr. Paul Gardullo

    • Trudy Hutcherson

    • Dr. Kate McMahon

    • Gabrielle Chantal Miller

    • Kelly Navies

    • Dr. Kevin Young

    • Johanna Obenda

    • Ivie Orobaton

    • Fleur Paysour

Belgium
  • Belgium Participants
    • Bosefe Baluka Iyaku

    • Jaqueline Goegebeur

    • Gaspard Habumuremyi

    • Cécile Ilunga

    • Sibo Kanobana

    • Salome Ysebaert

    • Dieudonné Lakama

    • Miezi Bernadette Lusakalalu

    • Innocent Muhozi

    • Ken Ndiaye

  • Belgium Project Team
    • Dominique Ankone

      Flemish Translator

    • Bukas Basumbandek

      Lingala Translator

    • Armand Bayala

      Videographer

    • Christine Bluard

    • Sofie Bouillon

    • Maurice Carney

      Translation Support, Friends of the Congo

    • Dr. Bambi Ceuppens

      Site Organizer, Interviewer

    • Marie-Reine Iyumva

      Interviewer

    • Diana Salakheddin

      Scientific Researcher

    • Paul Shemisi

      Videographer

    • Sophie de Ville

Brazil
  • Brazil Participants
    • Alcino Amaral

    • Marcelo Amaro

    • Cláudio Honorato

    • Maurício Hora

    • Mônica Lima

    • Thayssa Menezes

    • Caio Sergio Moraes

    • Nilcemar Nogueira

    • Renzo Pena

    • Erick Quirino

    • Laís Rocha

    • Ivanir dos Santos

    • Nathalia Sarro

    • Thiago Sereno

  • Brazil Project Team
    • Dr. Martha Abreu

      Site Organizer, Interviewer

    • Dr. Paul Gardullo

    • Dr. Keila Grinberg

    • Ademir Junior

      Videographer

    • Aline Montenegro Magalhães

    • Vinícius Natal

      Project Manager, Site Organizer, Researcher, Interviewer

    • Natália Pires Rodrigues

      Videographer, Photographer

    • Matheus Sinder

      Research Assistant

    • Tatiana Limoncic

      Portuguese Translator

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
  • DRC Participants
    • Jeanine Amusubi Yogolelo

    • Paul Dilungane Dia Malonga

    • François Kadiebwe Wa Kasangu

    • Rachel Kapombo Ilodi

    • Ferdinand Lokunda Lokunda da Silva

    • Betty Mafueni

    • Thérèse Mantu

    • Prisca Manyala

    • Suzanne Matondo Mbamboulou

    • Anna Mawuna Nsiala

    • Pierre Giscard Mayona Ntangu Zayionso

    • Déo Mpatu

    • Jona Mukamba Kadiata Nzeba

    • Rémy Muke

    • Yvonne Muleka

    • Daniel Ndoluvwalu Nadia

    • Betty Mafueni Thérèse Mantu Prisca Manyala Suzanne Matondo Mbamboulou Anna Mawuna Nsiala Pierre Giscard Mayona Ntangu Zayionso Déo Mpatu Jona Mukamba Kadiata Nzeba Rémy Muke Yvonne Muleka Daniel Ndoluvwalu Nadia Léon Nguapitshi Kayongo

    • Debora Nsomwe

    • Daniel Ntumba Wa Tshilumba

    • Amour Otou-Etoundi

    • Jean François Tamba Mabiaca

    • Géraldine Tobe

    • Ernest Léon Viokolo Lelo

  • DRC Project Team
    • Dr. Bambi Ceuppens

      Site organizer, Interviewer

    • Michée Diansana

    • Kevin Elonga

    • Dani Kula

    • Pierrot Mukanya-Mufuta

    • Diana Salakheddin

      Royal Museum for Central Africa

    • Paul Shemisi

      Videographer

    • Bukas Basumbandek

      Lingala Translator

JAMAICA
  • Jamaica Participants
    • Sir Hilary Beckles

    • Colonel Marcia Douglas

    • Marcus Goffe

    • Angela Henry

    • Prof. Robert (Bobby) A. Hill

    • Dr. Rupert Lewis

    • Hon. P.J. Patterson

    • Dr. Verene Shepherd

  • Jamaica Project Team
    • Michael Anderson

      Videographer

    • Prof. Anthony Bogues

      Site organizer & interviewer

    • Jonathan Garcia

      Videographer

    • Lennon Gray

      Driver

    • Yannick Etoundi

      Interviewer

    • Hans Salazar

      Videographer

    • Gabriel Soyka

      Videographer

SENEGAL
  • Senegal Participants
    • Amadou Bâ

    • Faty Ba

    • Abou Mamadou Ba

    • Lamine Badgi

    • Mouhamadou Bah

    • Moussa Diakité Bah

    • Mame Baledjo

    • Cyrille Bassène

    • Alioune Badara Coulibaly

    • Dr. Eloi Coly

    • Jean-Louis Coly

    • Baila Coulibaly

    • Dounamba Coulibaly

    • Oumar Diallo

    • Sadio Diallo

    • Cheikh Amadou Diarra

    • Nassou Adama Diarra

    • Djeumb gui Diaw

    • Malamine Diaw

    • El Hadj Abdoulaye Faye

    • Modou Gaye

    • Marius Gouané

    • Samba Gueye

    • Mamoudou Dembel Guissé

    • Mouhamed Lamine Kane

    • Oulèye Koné

    • Ousmane Mbodj

    • Pasteur Philippe Jean Baptiste Mendy

    • Moussa Arfang Ndong

    • Abdoulaye Ndiaye

    • Jean Ouattara

    • Sona Sall

    • Demba Sangaré

    • Badara Seck

    • Amar Seck

    • Khadidiatou Siwaré

    • Aissata Sy

    • Ndeye Binta Thioye

    • Yaye Faty Touré

    • Thieman Touré

    • Marième Traoré

    • Pierre Ngombe Zinga

  • Senegal Project Team
    • Dr. Mouhamed Abdallah Ly

      Co-Organizer

    • Fatoumata Camara

      Project Manager, Co-Organizer

    • Tahirou Diop

    • Marius Gouané

    • Aicha Kamite

    • Yvette Koussangué Senghor

    • Youssou Mballo

    • René Ndiana Faye

    • Dr. Aboubakry Sow

    • Ibrahima Sow

    • Ibrahima Sy

    • Prof. Ibrahima Thiaw

      Co-Organizer

    • Youssou Touré

    • Anna-Karima Wane

    • Abdoulaye Niang

      WARC Staff Member

    • Dr. Ousmane Sene

      WARC Director

    • Marianne Yade

      WARC Staff Member

  • Graduate Students at Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)
    • Aicha Kamité

    • Ibrahima Oumar Sy

    • Amadou Thiam

    • Elhadj Youssou Touré

  • 2019 Senegal Field Visit Participants
    • Faty Ba

    • Baila Coulibaly

    • Abdrahmane Diallo

    • Demba Diallo

    • Oumar Diallo

    • Sadio Diallo

    • Younouss Diallo

    • Fandièry Diarra

    • Louis Diarra

    • Maguette Mouna Diarra

    • Cheikh Bamba Diop

    • Djibi Gassambiri

    • Alioune Gueye

    • Hamady Konaté

    • Ousmane Mangane

    • Abdoulaye Ndiaye

    • Zaabi Ndiaye

    • Malick Niang

    • Ramata Sadio

    • Sona Sall

    • Ngor Sène

    • Thierno Sidy

      Spiritual leader of the Endam Bilaly

    • Mère Sow

    • Adama Sy

    • Aissata Sy

    • Demba Sy

    • Samba Sy

    • Abdoul Wahabou

  • 2019 Senegal Field Visit Global Curatorial Project Participants
    • Prof. Ibrahima Thiaw

      Co-organizer

    • Dr. Mouhamed Abdallah Ly

      Co-organizer

    • Mouhamadou Deme

      Interpreter

    • Fatima Diallo

      Interpreter

    • Prof. Geri Augusto

    • Anthony Bogues

    • Dr. Bambi Ceuppens

    • Dr. Paul Gardullo

    • Dr. Kate McMahon

    • Maiyah Rivers

    • Shana Weinberg

    • Ablaye Ndiaye

      WARC Assistant

    • Abdoulaye Niang

      WARC Staff Member

    • Dr. Ousmane Sene

      WARC Director

    • Marianne Yade

      WARC Staff Member

SOUTH AFRICA
  • South Africa Participants
    • Mercia Andrews

    • Jaco Boshoff

    • Najumoeniesa Damon

    • Shirley Davids

    • Esther Esmyol

    • Dianna Ferrus

    • Johan Geduld

    • Jake Harding

    • Miekte Hendriks

    • Magrieta Jacobs

    • Magdelene Jacobs

    • Adriaan Jordaan

    • Carmen Louw

    • Zann Manho

    • Ron Martin

    • Dingi Ntuli

    • Benjamin Du Plessis

    • Roderick Sauls

    • Lorna Solomon

    • Anna Swarts

    • Johannes Warries

    • Noleen Wilson

    • Cobus Wilson

  • South Africa Team
    • Amanda Botha

      Trainee

    • Anthony Bogues

      interviewer

    • Loyiso Centane

      Sound Recordist

    • Riefqua Franks

      Transcriber

    • Melany Fuma

      Transcriber, Translator

    • Shanaaz Galant

      Project Manager, Interviewer

    • Carlye Lodewyk

      Assistant Camera, Transcriber, Translator

    • Nozuko Madokwe

      Production Assistant

    • Monde Matyumza

      DIT

    • Nangamso Memani

      Camera Trainee

    • Joy Meyer

      Production Manager, Drone Camera Operator

    • Aviwe Gift Ndalane

      Camera Operator

    • Ngoni Nyembe

      Cinematographer

    • Thulani Nxumalo

      Assistant Camera

    • Maganthrie Pillay

      Filmmaker, Director

    • Katherine Poggenpoel

      Production Assistant, Transcriber

    • Abdul Azeez Stemmet

      Sound Recordist

    • Paul Tichmann

      Project Manager, Interviewer

    • Dean Tiedt

      Drone Operator

    • Sky Zulu

      Assistant Camera

    • Masala Film Works

      Production Company

    • Native Creative Productions

      Drone Company

UNITED KINGDOM (Liverpool)
  • Liverpool Participants
    • Nicky Blaze

    • Judith Cummings

    • James Diboe

    • Muhammad Elmi

    • Howard Gayle

    • Rita Martelli

    • Kerry Nugent

    • Laurence Westgaph

    • Olayinka (Yinka) Mutiu Adio Yesufu

    • Ray Quarless

      UC 2017 Organizer/ UC 2022 Interviewee/RESPECT Member

  • Liverpool Project Team
    • Ayo Akinrele

      RESPECT Member/ activist and Hope Uni student

    • Prof. Anthony Bogues

      Interviewer

    • Claire Benjamin

    • Richard Benjamin

    • Stef Bradley

      National Museums Liverpool

    • Darren Brady

      Videographer

    • Julia Bryan

    • Michelle Charters

      RESPECT Member, Director International Slavery Museum

    • Alexandra Creighton

      Site Organizer

    • Lisa Edison

      Site Organizer, Interviewer

    • Miles Greenwood

    • Sandi Hughes

      Film Support (2017)

    • Ranmalie Jayawardana

    • Graham Jones

      Owner of Defend Vinyl record shop

    • Stephen Carl Lokko

      Liverpool Museum Staff (2017)

    • Jean-Francois Manicom

    • Paul McMullan

      Digital Content Producer, NML

    • Paul Reid

    • Maria O’Reilly

      RESPECT Member

    • Michelle Peterkin-Walker

      Film Support, RESPECT Member (2017)

    • Claire Stringer

      Visual Minutes Taker (2017)

UNITED STATES (Africatown, AL)
  • Africatown Participants
    • Jordan Barnes

    • Joleigh Bush

    • Stephanie Coates

    • Thurman B. Coates

    • Arlean Horton

    • Brandon Hoyt

    • Marcus Kyles

    • Emmett Lewis

    • Nina Major

    • Patrick Munnerlyn

    • Jennifer Prince

    • Destineé Rogers

    • Larry Ruffin

    • Derrick Tinsley

    • Samuel Waller

    • Rev. Christopher Williams Sr.

    • Barja Wilson

    • Joe Womack

    • Lorna Gail Woods

    • Mary C. Wright

  • Africatown Project Team
    • Gabrielle Chantal Miller

      Site organizer, Interviewer

    • Tiffany McNeil

      Videographer

    • Johanna Obenda

      Site organizer, Interviewer

Global Curatorial Project Interviews
  • Global Curatorial Project Curator Interview Participants
    • Anthony Bogues

    • Dr. Bambi Ceuppens

    • Dr. Paul Gardullo

    • Miles Greenwood

    • Dr. Keila Grinberg

    • Johanna Obenda

    • Prof. Ibrahima Thiaw

    • Paul Tichmann

  • Dakar, Senegal Curator Interviews Project Team
    • Anthony Bogues

      Interviewer

    • Mbaye Gueye

      Driver

    • Djiby Diouf

      Driver

    • Lucien J. Dieng

      Videographer

    • Amadou Dieng

      WARC Staff Member

    • Yannick Etoundi

      Interviewer

    • Abdoulaye Niang

      WARC Staff Member

    • Dr. Ousmane Sene

      WARC Director

    • Marianne Yade

      WARC Staff Member

  • Washington, D.C. Curator Interviews Project Team
    • Michael Anderson

      videographer

    • Anthony Bogues

      Interviewer

    • Yannick Etoundi

      Interviewer

    • Dr. Paul Gardullo

    • Fleur Payson

      Project manager

    • Gabriel Soyka

      Videographer

Brown University Researcher Interviews
  • Brown University Researcher Interview Participants
    • Yannick Etoundi

    • Nélari Figueroa Torres

    • Gustav Lloyd Hall

    • Karyn Mota

    • Bianca Pallo

    • Dillon Christophe Stone

    • Laura Tamayo

  • Brown University Researcher Interviews Project Team
    • Yannick Etoundi

      Interviewer

    • Paul Rochford

      Videographer, Brown University Media Services

    • Michael Spaur

      Videographer, Brown University Media Services

    • Gracie Vicente

      Videographer, Brown University Media Services

    • Shana Weinberg

      Interviewer

The Unfinished Conversations Series Exhibition
  • Curatorial Team
    • Yannick Etoundi

      Lead Curator

    • Anthony Bogues

    • Kiku Langford McDonald

    • Shana Weinberg

  • Exhibition Design, Catalog, and Installation
    • Ben Kaplan

    • Elise Kirk

    • Erin Wells

      Erin Wells Design

The Unfinished Conversations Series Documentary
  • Media Projects Team
    • Anthony Bogues

      UC Project Director, Executive Producer

    • Yannick Etoundi

      Documentary Project Manager, Researcher, Associate Producer

    • Shana Weinberg

      UC Project Manager, Associate Producer

    • Kiku Langford McDonald

    • Sydney Smith

    • Nélari Figueroa Torres

      Researcher

    • Kennedy Jones

      Researcher

    • Michael Anderson

      Director, Producer, Pass Story of Diaspora Forward Inc.​​

    • Gabriel Soyka

      Editor

    • Africa Smith

      Narration

    • Jaime David Castañeda

      Motion Graphics Design and Animation, Redland Studios

    • Jonathan Garcia

      Color Grading

    • Erich Hentschel

      Motion Graphics Design and Animation, Redland Studios

    • Steve Johnston

      Audio Mixing, Outpost Audio Inc.

    • Hans Salazar

      Color Grading

    • Universal Cinergia Dubbing LLC

      Language Dubbing