Thursday, 18 February 2021, 7 – 8pm

A panel discussion as part of the 'Trinity and the Changing City' Series in partnership with Trinity Long Room Hub.

This panel discussion will focus on the artistic representation of refugees and direct provision. It will include as speakers Vukasin Nedeljkovic, Dr Bisi Adigun, Bulelani Mfaco, and Dr Roja Fazaeli.

Vukasin Nedeljkovic compiled an archive of photographs while in direct provision and afterwards to document the conditions in Direct Provision. Vukasin Nedeljkovic holds a Masters in Visual Arts Practice at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Arts, Design and Technology. He will present images from his archive.

Dr Bisi Adigun (adjunct lecturer in drama, TCD and Senior Lecturer in Bowen University, Iwo Nigeria) will speak about his work with Arambe Theatre Company in bringing awareness of African immigrant experiences to Irish audiences through his work as a director and writer. His adaptation, co-written with Roddy Doyle, of a Nigerian Playboy of the Western World, was presented at the Abbey Theatre.

Bulelani Mfaco is a South African refugee who has spent several years in Direct Provision in Ireland after receiving a Masters degree from UCD. He has been a representative for MASI, the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, on the government’s expert group tasked with reforming direct provision.

Dr Roja Fazaeli (Middle Eastern Studies, TCD) will speak about her work with refugees and the importance of TCD to become a university of sanctuary. Dr Fazaeli has served on the boards of Amnesty International, the Irish Refugee Council, and the Irish Immigrant Council.

Steve Wilmer (Professor Emeritus in Drama, TCD) will chair the panel.

Trinity and the Changing City is organised by the Identities in Transformation research theme, led by Daniel Faas, Department of Sociology, and is supported by the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute.

Learn more at: https://www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub/