We Were Here would make an excellent addition to public libraries’ collections, particularly in the context of educational resources on history, art, renaissance, modern languages, sociology, cultural studies and African diaspora studies.

-- J. Zimmerman- Video Librarian

​We Were Here - The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe is dives explores the histories and stories of well-known figures like Alessandro De' Medici, Juan de Pareja, João de Sá Panasco, and Saint Benedict of Palermo. Shot across iconic locations in Europe and Brazil with a roster of multi-lingual experts in art and history, this educational documentary does an excellent job of condensing the lives and stories of a handful of notable Africans in Renaissance Europe and how their presence and skills shaped history and the visuals of Europe’s most famous art movement. Combining reenactments and animations with the experts' passionate explanations of history and Renaissance society, We Were Here gives a surprisingly deep and enjoyable journey through an important and understudied aspect of art history. We Were Here is an incredibly well-researched documentary with dozens of scholarly sources and expert voices added to the film. Unveiled at the 60th International Art Exhibition la Biennale Venezia in 2024, this film joins a long tradition of studying the African presence in Europe through the lens of art and history.