Being Human Festival: The Secret of the Bush: A Story of Healing and Repair

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 7–16 November 2024. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.

The Secret of the Bush is a collaboration between Dr Grazia Caleo, and illustrator-as-historian, Kremena Dimitrova. The children’s book contributes to the topic of intergenerational relationships in children’s literature by means of addressing the challenging subject of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

This event will encompass a talk and a workshop for adults (aged over 18). The talk invites audiences to explore how personal and collective stories contribute to healing and repair in the context of the West Africa Ebola outbreak by highlighting the resilience, courage, and humanity that emerge in the face of a devastating epidemic. The talk will be followed by a discussion of the co-creation process and story-picture building of the book.

The workshop will use a multi-method approach including creative writing (poetry), illustration, and collage making inspired by natural materials (leaves, roots, soil, etc.) to express personal connections and narratives about disease, environment, and relationships.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

o 158 Hungerford Arches SBC Access Road SE18XU, Concert Hall Approach, London, United Kingdom