KBF to present South About on oceanic networks connecting Global South from Today

Kochi / February 8, 2026

Kochi, Feb. 08: The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) is all set to present South About, a gathering of researchers, artists, curators, and practitioners who explore the oceanic networks that have long connected the Global South, from February 9 to 11, in Pavillion, Bastion Bungalow, as part of the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

Through conversations, performances, and panel discussions, it seeks to at least temporarily “re-world” the South from a situated southern perspective, mapping shared histories and envisioning solidarities and affinities across the shores of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.

The Global South connections could be tangible, intangible, or affinitive. Being organised in Kochi, a historic port on the Malabar Coast, the gathering reflects on centuries of exchange, migration, and cultural entanglement that have shaped communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

On February 9, the programmes will commence from 10 am on the topic: Seamless Oceans and Non-hemispheric Thinking.

It will begin with a lecture-performance by Abdul Halik Azeez, Authentic Narrative of The Curious Espionage of an Unnamed Moor. At 10. 25 am, Carlos Quijon Jr will give a talk (online) on Methods of Co-Presence, Matters of Coincidence.

At 10.40 am: AM: KBF Programme Director Mario D’Souza will give a talk on Spectres, Specimens, and Ships in Doubt. This will be followed by a conversation from 10. 55 am to 11:25 am on Regional Frameworks: Movements and forms of gathering/ remembering At noon, Amina Menia will give a lecture-performance on Names and Places. This will be followed by a talk by Sara Hermann at 12.15 pm on The Curatorial as Metabolism, The Curatorial as Noise: Notes on How Exhibitions Speak from some places in the Caribbean.

At 12.30 pm, Inga Lace will give a talk on Afro-Asian Writers’ Gatherings in Almaty in 1973 and in Tashkent in 1958. A Conversation will follow from 12:45 pm to 1.30 pm.

From 3 pm to 4 pm, Mahmood Kooria will give the keynote on Between Mexico and Mozambique: Cochin and Oceanic Circulations, 1500–1800.

On February 10, the programmes will commence from 10 am on the topic: Alliances: Co-operations & Friendships.

It will begin with a talk by Sanaz Sohrabi (online) on Songs and Ghosts: An Incomplete Calendar of Solidarity followed by a talk by Serubiri Moses on Kinship, Alliance, and Other Ideas at 10 .15 am.

At 10.30 am, Thiago de Paula Souza will give a talk followed by conversation from 10:45 am to 11:15 am on Nomadic frameworks and para/un/extra institutional forms.

At 11.30 am, Priyankar Bahadur Chand will give a talk on ‘Until Today—to enjoy this land: on mobilities or lack thereof’. At 11.45 am, Farid Rakun will give a talk on ‘D-I(nstitution)-Y: imagine, build, practice’. At noon, Ibrahim Mahama will give a talk on ‘Politics of Repair’. At 12.15 pm, Gabi Ngcobo will give a talk on ‘Dialoguing with History in the Present’ followed by conversation from 12.30 pm to 1.15 pm.

The programmes on February 11 will be on the topic: Non-alignment, Regional Orders & distant Utopias.

It will begin from 11.30 am with a talk by Grace Samboh (online) followed by a talk at noon by Naeem Mohaiemen (online) with Prajna Desai on Solidarity Must Be Defended: “Love Supreme & Chittaprosad’.

This will be followed by a talk by Grithiya Gaweewong on The Shattered Worlds: A Revisit at 12:30 pm. At 12. 50 pm, Ala Younis will give a talk (online) on Double-Sided Mirror. Conversation will follow from 1. 10 pm to 1. 40 pm.

Ends