Events

A conversation with Proprietors John Lamson and Lou Salome (Board of Directors) about the work of Rain for the Sahel and Sahara, a local non-profit that benefits women and children in Niger. John and his wife Lee are being honored by RAIN for their support.

Discussion begins at 5:30 in the first-floor Sawtelle Reading Room. Space is very limited. To reserve your seat(s), please call (603) 431-2538.

African Apocalypse: A Cinematic Exploration and Discussion of Colonialism, Racism, and Responsibility

Rain for the Sahel and Sahara (RAIN), in collaboration with 3S Artspace and Green Acre, is hosting a film screening of Rob Lemkin’s African Apocalypse followed by a panel discussion. Join us in sparking a conversation about colonialism, the progression of racism and racial equity, and our role and responsibility as global citizens to engage with these matters in a responsible and productive manner. Hear from our panelists Ali Sekou, Najee Brown, and Victoria Carrington on the role of the creative arts in exploring equity and injustice and the importance of bridging global divides through inclusion.

Film Synopsis African Apocalypse tells the story of a young man’s profound journey across Africa driven by his quest to uncover the legacy of colonial horror. Armed with a copy of Conrad’s classic novel, “Heart of Darkness”, British-Nigerien Oxford University student and activist Femi Nylander goes in search of the meaning and legacy of colonial horror in West Africa. He discovers the unknown story of a French army captain, Paul Voulet, who descended into unspeakable barbarity in the conquest of Niger at the very moment Conrad wrote his book. Femi’s exploration sheds light on how Voulet’s damaging actions continue to affect present-day Nigeriens, whose country has been described as the world’s least developed country dates from the moment of Voulet’s arrival in their land. But amidst a tragic history, Femi also encounters a beautiful spirit of hope: young people learning to find a way out of colonialism’s darkness, and a country determined to harness the power of its most precious resource: the light of the sun. He returns to Britain just as a new global confrontation of the legacy of empire and racism emerges in the Black Lives Matter protests, determined to contribute to this global movement against oppression.

Please be advised – this film contains sensitive content and violence and is for mature audiences only.

3S Artspace is located at 319 Vaughan St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

Tickets are available through eventbrite

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is partnering with RAIN to show two films on climate change in Africa – “The Great Green Wall” on October 24th from 6 PM and running until about 8 PM at the Portsmouth Public Library and on November 16th they will screen “Thank you for the Rain” from 6 PM – 8 PM.

WACNH will partner with several groups to facilitate discussions after screening each film. The audience will be broken into small groups to provide an opportunity to talk about specific topics and what the audience saw in the films.

Learn more: https://wacnh.org/event-5432013

Join us on May 2nd

6:30-7:30pm ET on Zoom. Register here.

About Thirst:

Betrayal forces a young woman to flee a relationship and forge a new life in one of the most brutal landscapes in the world.

A diverse cast of displaced westerners and local nomads converge in this story of love, personal and cultural identity, and what it takes to survive. The main character eventually adapts to the culture and her job while recognizing her part in the threatened dissolution of a nomadic culture

Featuring Author: K.L. Barron

K.L. Barron is a writer of place: poetry and prose. Her prize-winning fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction has been published in New Letters, The Bennington Review, Little Balkans Review, terrain.org, ChickenBones (Library of Congress), among others, and in several anthologies.

She teaches writing and literature at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and lives and writes in the Flint Hills. This is her debut novel.

Hosted by: Nick Krakoff

Nick served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger from 2008-2010, where he lived in both Niamey (the capital) and Badaguichiri (Tahoua). He worked with community based organizations to develop income generating opportunities and taught in elementary and middle schools.

Nick currently lives in Concord, NH where he works as an environmental and energy lawyer for a New England-based non-profit. He also serves on RAIN’s Board of Directors.

Our Executive Director, Katherine Kolios, will be the featured speaker on Sunday, February 26th at St. John’s Episcopal Church,100 Chapel Street Portsmouth, 03801. The talk is called “Outside the Box with Katherine Kolios” Please join us in the Philbrick Room after the 10:00 a.m. service for a guest speaker and light lunch. Katherine will share about the good works the organization is performing in Niger (Africa) and the challenges it faces, especially as it relates to climate change. The series aims to gain insight into our neighbors a continent away as we venture Outside The Box. Learn more:

http://www.stjohnsnh.org/new-events/2023/2/26/outside-the-box

Seacoast friends rejoice! July 31st is Pan African Women’s Day, which celebrates the achievements of African Women & advocates for gender equality!