Discover with us, unseen local narratives with African connections, going back to Roman Yorkshire. Our guided public walks provide informative perspectives on historical facts, to provoke questions and/or reflection.
We begin our journey, around the central campus of the University of Leeds, from the steps of the iconic Parkinson Building, Woodhouse Lane. Start times are usually 11am or 2pm on the first Saturday of the month or following Sunday, depending on demand and new dates added to the original schedule.
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You will hear about Nesyamun (the Leeds Mummy), the Queen of Sheba, Queen Hatshepsut, the Nubian Pharaohs, the Bangled Lady of York, Emperor Septimus Severus, Olaudah Equiano, Sarah Parker Remond, Prince Alamayu, Pablo Fanque, Wole Soyinka, David Oluwale, Arthur France MBE, RH Robert Nesta Marley, David Hamilton MBE and much more.
The walk, understandably, lasts 2 hours & is interactive. Questions and group discussions are welcomed, but steered by the walk-guide for timekeeping. Participation in discourse is of course optional. The majority of our walkers simply like to absorb the rich information and follow up afterwards with their own research.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
We will walk in sun and rain, each add their own quality to the atmosphere of the stories. However, we advise walkers to wear/bring appropriate items for protection against the weather.
Currently, we strongly recommend that you wear a mask respectfully on the university campus, but as the walk takes place solely outdoors the wearing of masks is optional.
The route is wheelchair accessible, but please give advance notice if possible.
We rarely cancel a walk, but if we do, due to extreme weather or new Covid regulations, we will offer another arrangement.
Leeds Black History Walks are run by Heritage Corner, who present creative collaborations and public services on the historic African presence in Yorkshire.
ORIGINS
The Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project (2005-2009), founded by Arthur France MBE and funded by the then Heritage Lottery Fund, commissioned the first walk to commemorate the 2nd visit to Leeds, in 1859, by the African American abolitionist and international statesman – Frederick Douglass. The project relied on the research of the Diasporian Stories Research Group (1995-present). The Leeds Black History Walk was the creation of researcher and actor Joe Williams, founder and director of Heritage Corner (2014).
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