Femi Johnson
Femi Johnson is a Digital Heritage Specialist at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), where he leverages science to preserve, interpret, and revitalize African cultural heritage.
At the MOWAA Digital Lab, he joined efforts to digitally reconstruct the Benin Bronze Plaques and recreate their original 16th-century Audience Hall, piecing together fragments of history dispersed across global collections. This work bridges gaps between past and present, offering new insights into West Africa’s cultural legacy.
Recognized internationally, Femi has served as a guest professor at the University of Arts Hamburg, where he investigated the intersection of impermanence, art, and science. He has also delivered lectures at the University of Zurich, Zurich University of the Arts, and Musee Theodore Monod Dakar etc. fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on heritage innovation.
Femi contributed to Ars Electronica Festival 2023’s panel “Rebuild Together: Digital, Human, and Arts-Driven Innovation in Africa,” emphasizing collaborative innovation to reshape Euro-African narratives. He further advises on the STARTS4AFRICA Prize (2024–2025), guiding Africa-centric creative tech initiatives.
Femi’s expertise has spurred collaborations with institutions including the Swiss Benin Initiative, Goethe Institute, Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford), German Archaeological Institute, National Commission for Museums and Monuments Nigeria, and the GAS Foundation, among others. His mission: to reclaim fragmented histories through technology, ensuring African heritage thrives in a digital future.
Public lecture
Time and Place: 15 May 2025, 06.15–08:00pm, Unitobler, room: tba
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Elize Mazadiego (Institute of Art History, Universität Bern)
Among other things, the lecture and colloquium will address the proliferation of meaning through various techniques of repetition or reproduction, especially in light of an increasing drive towards digitalization. More information soon.
Colloquium
Time and Place: 16 May 2025, 10.15am–05:00pm, Unitobler, room: tba
For PhD students, advanced Master students of the University of Bern, as well as interested parties
Part 1 of the colloquium is dedicated to the discussion of the lecture and the texts suggested by the guest. In Part 2, a core group present their PhDor postdoctoral projects, speaking for about 20 minutes (English) on how the concept of "Repetition" and related concepts/problems such as such as "continuity and discontinuity", "orignal and copy", or the proliferation of meaning through various techniques of repetition or reproduction connect to their research questions and which aspects of the texts are of particular relevance to their own work. The presenters raise questions for the discussion with their peers, which should contribute to the development of their thesis. Finally, in Part 3, the conversation will open up again so that the other PhD or advanced MA-students have an opportunity to address issues related to their projects
ECTS
1.5 (Pflicht- oder Wahlpflichtbereich ICS und GS / Wahlpflichtbereich SLS, SINTA, open to (post)doctoral students, advanced MA students at the University of Bern and further interested parties.
Language
English
Registration
from now on via KSL und E-Mail to michael.toggweiler@unibe.ch
