Join writer, curator and broadcaster Ekow Eshun in conversation with visual artist Godfried Donkor as they explore the ideas, influences and inspiration behind ‘Godfried Donkor: It’s a Numbers Game’.

Bringing together paintings, collages and embroideries, ‘It’s a Numbers Game’ traces the interconnected histories of Britain, West Africa and the Caribbean, revealing how questions of power, trade and resistance continue to shape the present.

Responding to Colchester’s layered history, Donkor explores the connections between Colchester and Ghanaian history, drawing together figures such as Boudicca and Yaa Asantewaa to reveal how stories, people and places remain connected across time and continents.

In this special live conversation, Eshun and Donkor will discuss Donkor’s practice, and how art can challenge accepted histories, reveal unexpected connections and invite us to see the past not as fixed, but as something continually reinterpreted through the present.

Ekow Eshun

Ekow Eshun OBE is an award-winning author and curator, renowned for his multifaceted contributions to contemporary culture.

Described by Vogue as “the most inspired – and inspiring – curator in Britain”, he has staged acclaimed exhibitions internationally and was awarded the Association for Art History’s Curatorial Prize 2023.

A trailblazer in British culture, Eshun made history as the first Black head of a major UK arts institution, serving as the director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.

As Chairman of the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, he leads one of the world’s most significant public art projects.

His writing, featured in outlets such as The New York Times, Financial Times, and Vogue, reflects his expansive intellectual vision.

Hailed as “a cultural polymath” by the Guardian, Eshun was the first Black editor of a major UK magazine, helming the former men’s magazine, Arena.

He is the author of several books including The Strangers, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Black Gold of the Sun, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and holds an honorary doctorate from London Metropolitan University. 

Godfried Donkor

Godfried Donkor is one of the most compelling artists working today on the intertwined histories of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.

Through his artwork, Godfried explores themes of power and resistance, drawing unexpected connections between historical narratives and contemporary life.

This year marks a major moment in his career, with his inclusion in the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale and his first UK institutional exhibition at Firstsite.

Working between London and Accra, Donkor has built an international reputation for creating visually striking works that challenge conventional histories and reveal the complex cultural exchanges that continue to shape our world.

About ‘Godfried Donkor: It’s a Numbers Game’ exhibition

Step into a boxing ring. Stand face-to-face with the leaders and resisters who shaped history. Walk through waves of figures rising from the pages of the Financial Times.

Experience Godfried Donkor’s first UK institutional show at Firstsite – a powerful, immersive exploration of the shared histories between Britain, West Africa, and the Caribbean, revealing how Colchester’s own past is deeply intertwined with Ghana’s.