Africa in Australia
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Entangled Objects, Living Histories
Richard Vokes
Since the turn of the millennium, ties between Africa and Australia have grown substantially. However, connections between the two continents are not new. On the contrary, human contacts pre-date the arrival of the First Fleet to Australia in 1788, and they continued to grow throughout the European colonial period, and into the post-colonial era. This volume examines the entire history of Africa-Australia relations through the material culture it left behind. There are today tens of thousands of African-born artefacts held in museum collections across Australia, each of which was conveyed to Australia through one of the many networks that have connected the two continents. Each chapter in this book tells the story of one African-born artefact that is now housed in Australia, and what its journey reveals about the character of Africa-Australia ties. In amalgam, all of this African-born material culture has an extraordinary amount to tell, revealing much that is new for African Studies, about Africa-Australia connections, and in the Australian Story itself.
Please note that the hardback edition is available exclusively from UWA Publishing and shipping times will be delayed.
Praise
Africa in Australia is a genuinely illuminating book, which elegantly combines new research into museum collections with deeply personal stories and connections. This is an impressive collective undertaking, and the authors cover surprising, moving and troubling histories with care and imagination. My main take away is that this book shows how often overlooked historical connections between Africa and Australia continue to have powerful meanings in the present and hold possibilities for the future.
Zoe Cormack, Curator for Africa Collections, British Museum
Book details
PRICE: $59.99 incl GST (paperback), $99.99 incl GST (hardback)
FORMAT: paperback and hardback available
ISBN: 978-1-76080-342-1 (paperback), 978-1-76080-355-1 (hardback)
AUTHOR: Richard Vokes
CATEGORY: non-fiction
RIGHTS: World
PUBLICATION DATE: 1 October 2026