IROKO Theatre enjoyed a visit to the Museum of London Docklands along with two supplementary schools, The Treasures Supplementary School and Our Heritage UK, on 2nd September 2023. The visit was part of the ‘Home from Home’ project that highlights and celebrates the contributions of British-Nigerians to the UK. The visit was led by Shereen Hunte, The Engagement Manager at the Museum. She put together an interesting and varied tour which catered for children from as young as 5 years old to adults.
The tour started with a look round the London, Sugar and Slavery Gallery. Shereen explained how the trade in enslaved Africans and sugar from the West Indies created wealth for the docklands and London. The tour was interactive. The children and young people were asked to map the journeys of the slave ships from ports in what is now known as modern Nigeria to the London Docklands, and to cite the names of the captains and owners of the ships. However, no names of the Africans on board were recorded.
They also viewed prominent British-Nigerians during the 1700’s such as Olaudah Equiano, who was born in Nigeria, sold into slavery as a child, yet survived to buy his freedom. Later in life, he became a leading campaigner in the British abolitionist movement against slavery.
Other activities during the workshop looked at Nigerian artefacts held at the museum, such as the talking drum and the cocoa plant.
One of the young people commented afterwards in the feedback that they learned about ‘a lot of unknown history.’ Another comment thanked IROKO Theatre ‘for such an insightful day!’
