Black History Walking Tours Edinburgh

21/11/2024

Mark St Andrew's Day and Barbados Independence Day all in one on a special Barbados themed tour of Edinburgh on Sat 30th November 11-1.

Learn about the Covenanters' journey from the prisons on the Royal Mile, why Barbadians eat blood pudding, and the doctors from Barbados who trained in Edinburgh.

Do you know about the Bussa Rebellion of 1816, and the roles of Bussa, Jackey, King Wiltshire, Nanny Grigg and Joseph Pitt Washington Franklin? The revolutionary movement in Britain who may have had political influence or been working in solidarity? The role of Sir James Leith from Leith Hall in Aberdeen?

Folks in Barbados have surnames like Douglas, Robinson, Reid, Russell, Lewis, McLean, McFarlane, McKenzie, McDonald, Grant, Gordon, Graham, Stewart, Simpson, Scott, Ferguson, Frazer, Farquharson, McClusky and Sinclair.

Did you know these places are part of the Barbadian landscape?

Arthur's Seat, Callendar, Carrington, Inch Marlowe, Montrose. The Scotland District?

Only just found out myself from my mum that we have an ancestor who was a Scot who emigrated to Barbados!

Check the website to book!

14/11/2024

https://www.mixcloud.com/ehfm/the-ehfm-culture-show-131124/ Had fun doing this interview with EHFM radio station (from about half way through) - talking about the upcoming Black Walking Tours with Poetry and the panel for Disrupting the Narrative; all part of Push the Boat Out Festival next weekend. Amazing events of all things poetic! And here's playwright, poet and former Edinburgh Makar Hannah Lavery and me playing the fool on one of the photoshoots for the festival..we can't help ourselves when we get in proximity to each other!

Listen to The EHFM Culture Show - 13.11.24 by EHFM for free. Follow EHFM to never miss another show.

13/11/2024

Enjoyed taking BBC Radio Scotland on a mini Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh for Remembrance Sunday - the first ten minutes of the show I'm talking about just a few of the African and Caribbean military connections to Edinburgh - African and Caribbean soldiers and others contributing to Britain's war effort from the World Wars and before!

On Remembrance Sunday, is the annual act of remembering still important?

31/10/2024

To commemorate Antigua's Independence Day 1st Nov and Dominica's Independence Day 3rd Nov I'm putting on a special tour on Sat 2nd Nov that focuses on stories that connect Edinburgh with the two Caribbean islands. Stories of Celestine Edwards, Britain's first Black editor born in Dominica and grew up in Antigua before arriving in Edinburgh; part of a multi ethnic group fighting for human rights within the British Empire, Clara Marguerite Christian who left Dominica for a convent school in Edinburgh and who became Edinburgh's first Black female undergrad. The story of the Doig family, including the Burgess of Edinburgh who was born in Antigua, and the women and children enslaved by his family. How Henrietta Liston, born in Antigua and her Scottish ambassador husband Robert developed the special relationship between Britain and the USA post American Revolution by secretly exploiting the new free republic of what was to become Haiti...and lots more!

30/10/2024

Thrilled to have been picked as one of the 100 on a stellar list! Just did my interview for the podcast to go along with the portrait - do check out the exhibition before it ends on 4th January.

100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark is an exhibition born out of a deep desire for greater representation of Black women. Curated by Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, the exhibition features 100 portraits of Black British women by fi...

29/10/2024

Check the new website www.blackhistoryscotland.com for a series of new tours coming up over the next couple of months. We have one focused on links with the islands of Antigua and Dominica on 2nd Nov to celebrate their upcoming Independence Days, one on military links to the Caribbean on 9th Nov, one on 1st December to celebrate emancipation in the Cape Colony and Scotland's links with South Africa, and even a Hogmanay morning special on 31 December that will focus on Watch Night and African American links to the city! Always something new to know :)
Also, if you've been before, please pop a review on Google Business for me please - the link is here https://g.page/r/CYTl_TKb7TGPEAE/review

25/10/2024

https://blackhistoryscotland.com Two Black History Walking Tours of Edinburgh on this weekend 11-1 Sat and Sun! Tomorrow there'll be stories of Black Victorians and Sunday more of a 20th century focus. There'll be a special military focused tour on 9 Nov WW1, WW2 but also Caribbean soldiers in Edinburgh in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lots of new stuff to share! Check the link to book

Discover the rich history of Edinburgh with our informative Black history walking tours. Book now to learn about Edinburgh's history of African, Caribbean and African American connections.

09/08/2024

Been off the streets and social media for a little while - but have a tour tonight 6pm to 8pm - will be choosing as many quiet side streets as possible and avoiding the Fringe frenzy

Hear the little-known stories of Edinburgh's many visitors and residents of African, African American and Caribbean heritage!