The Savannah African Art Museum (SAAM) is inviting the public to participate in its virtual exhibit, “Telling Your Story.” The project encourages community members to share personal or ancestral stories through images, writing, or video to help preserve and share the African American experience.

The exhibit is inspired by the Adinkra symbol “Sankofa” from the Akan people of Ghana, which means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what is at risk of being left behind." The museum believes there is wisdom in learning from the past to ensure a strong future. This digital exhibit offers a platform for contributors to highlight stories that deserve to be heard, whether they are triumphant, challenging, inspirational, or victorious.

According to Lisa Jackson, the Museum’s Education and Community Outreach Liaison, “This exhibit is not just about storytelling; it’s about reclaiming, honoring, celebrating, and healing through memory. We created ‘Telling Your Story’ as an opportunity to connect generations and people through the shared power of narrative. Everyone has a story that matters—We want to hear from individuals, churches, fraternities/sororities, organizations, publications, etc. You all have a story that matters - this is your invitation to share it.”

Participants can submit their stories in the following formats:

• Written word (maximum 500 words) as a scanned image or document (JPEG, PNG, PDF)

• Image submissions (JPEG, PNG, or PDF)

• Video (MP4, under 2 minutes)

Each submission should include a title (if applicable), the name and group/school affiliation (if relevant), the city, county, state, and/or country of both the contributor and the subject, and a brief description of the story or image.

All entries must be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Telling Your Story.” The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2025. Please note that submissions with profanity, slurs, or derogatory language will not be accepted.

The Savannah African Art Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of African culture. The museum has a collection of over 1,000 objects from West and Central Africa, representing over 180 cultures. For more information, virtual tours, workshops, and initiatives, visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or follow them on social media at @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.