IWM North will mark the 80thanniversary of the meeting of the Pan-African Congress, held in Manchester on 15 October 1945, with a new immersive and innovative Big Picture Show.
The Fifth Pan-African Congress, which saw delegates from 32 countries converge on Manchester for one of the defining geopolitical and cultural moments in the fight against imperialism, was a turning point in the struggle for African independence; within two decades, most colonial African nations had won their freedom.
Part of a series of meetings intended to address the decolonisation of Africa from Western imperial powers, the Congress demanded an end to colonial rule and racial discrimination.
The event took place in Manchester a few months after the end of the Second World War, fuelled by post-war activism and a demand for change. Manchester’s radical heritage and connections with the Pan-African movement were a major factor in the decision by the Congress to choose the city as its setting.
Held at Chorlton-on-Medlock Town Hall (now part of Manchester Metropolitan University), it was attended by delegates from around the world, including intellectuals, journalists, activists, trade unionists, students and political leaders from Africa, the Caribbean and the African diaspora in Europe and America.
There were 200 attendees – with 87 delegates from 32 countries and representatives of 50 organisations – including three future Presidents: Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Hastings Banda (Malawi) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana).
In collaboration with Young Identity, Manchester’s acclaimed spoken-word poetry collective, a group of young poets has been invited by IWM North to respond to the legacy and significance of the Congress. Through a series of creative writing workshops, the young poets explored the Congress’s themes, voices, and impact, crafting original pieces that speak to both history and the present.
IWM North’s award-winning 360-degree cinematic Big Picture Shows use surround sound, moving images and photographs to create a powerful and immersive experience.
Produced by Soup Collective, this new projection will feature spoken word reflections from the Young Identity poets , highlighting some of the key delegates and demands, as well as Manchester’s radical legacy, past and present. The film will also include photographs of key figures, such as the Jamaican Pan-Africanist activist Amy Ashwood Garvey, and of other attendees of the Congress. These visual assets for the new Big Picture Show have been sourced from the Race Relations Archive, The Working Class Movement Library, and Platt Hall – all local archives in and around Greater Manchester.
Carl Warner, Principal Curator, said: “The Second World War unsettled the old order. In its aftermath, the Fifth Pan African Congress in Manchester gave a platform to a new generation of African leaders, joined by activists from around the world, to demand independence and freedom. The new Big Picture Show will highlight the significance of the Congress, while shining a light on Manchester’s radical and diverse heritage.”
The Roads We Walked: The Fifth Pan-African Congress premiers at IWM North on 28 October 2025 and the free 7-minute show will be screened daily.
