Black History Walking Tours Edinburgh

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!

18/07/2024

Excited to say that Black History Walking Tours Edinburgh has a new home at www.blackhistoryscotland.com where you can book directly for the tours via PayPal or card. Dates are up for August, and September and October ones about to be added. Private group tours (date and time by prior arrangement) can be paid for online too. Photos, videos, talks, links to all my work on Scotland's Black History are all loading to create a one-stop-shop. Check it out!

06/07/2024

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-history-walking-tour-of-edinburgh-tickets-678467814497 All the money from tomorrow's tour will be going to aid relief efforts in the Caribbean after hurricane Beryl's devastation. Been so sad all week seeing old neighbours and friends on video struggling for surivival having lost EVERYTHING including their homes

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

02/07/2024

Those of you who have been on tour with me know I always say you're welcome to come party with us too!

https://caribscotfest.eventbrite.co.uk

Happening at The Basement, Le Monde Hotel, Edinburgh from 4pm to 10pm on Saturday 13th July, and featuring DJ’s, dancers and live music. John Simmit, comedian and MC, DJ Ria (Edinburgh) and DJ Melvina Moves (London), Nzinga Dance company, singers Ablewell Foundation and Scrappy will be keeping you entertained.
Outdoor seating on George St is also available for dinner. Le Monde restaurant menu is available to order by calling upfront and on the night. Caribbean snacks and accessories (flags etc) on sale. The option to stay on for The Shanghai Club night until 1am is included.
Under 18s are welcome until 8pm. £20 adults, £10 under 18s and under 5s free. Discount for group bookings of 10+ by emailing [email protected]

Get ready to party Caribbean style at CaribScot Fest™ in Edinburgh - it's gonna be a wild carnival celebration!

19/06/2024

Despite the downpours on Sunday morning we kept it cute with our spotted umbrellas and lots of time in the National Portrait Gallery. Big thanks to BBrit Project for filming an interview even in Edinburgh's rain!

19/06/2024

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-history-walking-tour-of-edinburgh-tickets-678467814497?aff=oddtdtcreator
New dates for July! Get booking - Sunday mornings but not too too early

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

14/06/2024

Big thanks to the International Climate Change Division at Scottish Government for organising and coming out on a Black History Walking Tour this week. We discussed the long history of Scots in the Caribbean - particularly in Grenada and Carriacou - and the pressing need to mitigate against the effects of climate change - with the increased intensity of hurricanes, coastal erosion and water shortages starting to wreak havoc on the region

11/06/2024

https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/edinburgh-scotland-travel-guide-and-things-to-do-nine-highlights-20220822-h25v1n.html Nice wee write up for the tours in the Sydney Morning Herald

10/06/2024

https://bbritproject.com/ The BBrit Project is coming to shoot a short film of the Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh on Sunday morning and interview a few of us from the Edinburgh Caribbean Association :)

TODAY’S BEAUTIFUL NEWS London’s exciting African and Caribbean art Read London’s Blackmurals Details Recent Stories Life changing health crisis inspires new business Read More Books reveal the UK’s Black presence Read More The Caribbean “medicine cabinet” is full of natural remedies Read...

20/05/2024

Those of you who have come on tour will have heard me invite you to some of our Caribbean cultural events and parties...well we have a BIG ONE coming up on July 13th in central Edinburgh...right on the history walk route in fact. 4pm-10pm. Under 18s welcome until 8pm

17/05/2024

Look out for some amazing Scotland-Grenada artistic and heritage youth collabs in the mix for 2025! Here with one of my oldest friends, the amazing fellow Grenadian multi-media artist Billy Gerard Frank who has represented Grenada at the Venice Biennale twice - here we are celebrating the screening of his film Palimpsest in Venice in 2022 for which I was one of the historical consultants along with brilliant Grenadian historian John Angus Martin!

17/05/2024

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-walking-tour-of-edinburgh-tickets-678467814497?aff=oddtdtcreator Few spots just came up for tomorrow morning if you want to jump on! Looks like glorious sunshine to walk in too :)

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

15/04/2024

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-walking-tour-of-edinburgh-tickets-678467814497 People have been asking...so here are some new dates - two for May and two for June. Get booking!

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

12/02/2024

Special walk on Sunday 10th March to mark International Women's Day - focusing on stories of women and girls of African descent connected to Edinburgh from the 1500s to the present day

ALL PROFITS FROM THIS TOUR WILL GO TO https://www.map.org.uk/ who do life-saving work in Palestine, including women, children and babies

To mark International Women's Day 2024, a special Black History walking tour of Edinburgh highlighting stories of women and girls

01/12/2023

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/444816/the-big-book-of-uk-history-by-williams-lisa/9780241570357 Excited to share that the children's book I wrote for Penguin on UK history is ready for pre-order and will be available from May 2024! Suitable for ages 6-9. Tried to rep all 4 nations of the UK as much as possible, including Scotland of course!

A fully illustrated account of UK history for inquisitive kids From the Jurassic coastline to the Jacobites and the Stone Age to social reform, learn all about iconic figures, incredible inventions, key events, hidden narratives and buried history in this illustrated chronology of UK history.

01/12/2023

https://news.stv.tv/east-central/scotlands-past-relationship-to-slave-trade-examined-in-lecture-at-university-of-edinburgh Took round Dr Earl Lewis and family plus some Edinburgh scholars on a tour of Edinburgh on Tuesday to share with them Edinburgh's deep links with the slave trade system, but also the pan-African movement and more...Dr Lewis gave the 13th Fulbright Distinguished lecture last night at Edinburgh University

Eminent historian Professor Earl Lewis will explore the country's past relationship with the slave trade.

01/12/2023

Great taking students and some of their families from Normandale College in Minnesota yesterday! They are used to the cold, so I didn't have to be worrying about them not wearing hats lol. They've been here studying World Literature including Edwidge Danticat and Leila Aboulela and using it to discuss migration, economics and decolonisation efforts

24/11/2023

This was nice for my tours to get picked as one of the UK's top 10 events for Black History Month 2023 along with Judi Love and Vanley Burke!

04/11/2023

https://snackmag.co.uk/edinburgh-international-book-festival-2023

Nice review of the tours as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival

2023 has been a year that has seen buzz and joy surrounding Edinburgh Festivals, and this energy has seeped into ...

20/10/2023

Don't be afraid to come out on tour tomorrow morning - we have plenty of gorgeous buildings en route that we are welcome to go into and shelter - sit down, keep warm and dry - locations that link with all the stories

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

12/10/2023

https://www.thewhitereview.org/feature/the-forgotten-angel-of-history/ I always like to talk about Celestine Edwards from Dominica who spent his first years in Britain as a teenager in Edinburgh in the 1870s - he was part of a band and the Temperance Movement. Organised for Ida B. Wells to speak in Edinburgh in 1893 and worked side by side with white British women including Scots like Isabella Fyvie Mayo. They were all part of a great multiracial anti imperialist movement at the end of the nineteenth century. Caroline Bressey's work on this is really helpful.

‘My great fear is that we are suffering from amnesia. I wrote to recover the memory of the human rainbow, which is in danger of being mutilated… We are much more than we are told. We are much more beautiful.’   Eduardo Galeano, 2013     February 2023: ‘A magisterial…