Reclaiming the story of Bradford's 1904 Somali village exhibition
More than 120 years on, a team of historians are piecing together the stories of those who lived within the walled compound and helping the UK Somali community reclaim the narrative.Reportedly attracting about 350,000 paid visitors in total, the exhibit transplanted about 100 Somali men, women and children from the Horn of Africa and put them on public display in Lister Park for six months. "It has resonance as a story of colonised and racialised people who still gazed back and resisted in their own way and had fascinating lives," says Prof Fozia Bora, from the University of Leeds. "We are really keen to share the story with Bradfordians and the country at large."
"Even though the Somali community has existed in different parts of the UK for over 150 years, nobody knew anything about the Somali village in Bradford," says Zainab Nur, chair of the recently founded Somali Village charity."That's why it needs to be told and shared."Together with an online history project, Ms Nur is attempting to reframe the event - "not as a footnote of imperial display, but as a significant episode in the longer history of Somali migration, cultural expression and resistance".Ms Nur, who was born to Somali parents and whose forefathers came to the UK during the industrial revolution, says learning about the exhibit raised several key questions."I was like, what is this? Are they being exhibited? Were they forced? Was it similar to human zoos?"The collaborative project and associated charity were officially launched at a recent event at Cartwright Hall, near where the village was located.
The project also aims to trace people who may be descendants of the original village residents, as little is known about what happened to them after the exhibition packed up and left.Records reveal the group lived in self-built huts and gave daily demonstrations including dancing, spear throwing and archery. Villagers also displayed their weaving and blacksmithing skills, selling their wares to visitors.One official report at the time said "they maintained their attractive character throughout, and under the trying conditions of the Yorkshire climate behaved in a most creditable manner".Prof Bora, an associate professor of Islamic history, says the team is determined to "reverse the gaze of looking at the other as exotic, strange, weird, even inferior"."That is the range of lenses through which the Somalis would have been viewed, as well as fascination and admiration," she says. "The project tries to really look at the experience from the Somali point of view."
Community historian Yahya Birt says the episode challenges some misconceptions about Bradford's multicultural identity.Discussing his own involvement, he says: "It began with a simple question - who were Bradford's first Muslims?"We found out that this community wasn't from South Asia but actually from the Horn of Africa."The team acknowledges it is a delicate story to tell, especially through a 21st Century lens and contemporary discourse around migration and decolonisation.But they believe the retelling is vital and will have particular resonance during Bradford's UK City of Culture year."There are many aspects of this story that are definitely uncomfortable," adds Mr Birt. "The best history happens when you're made to feel uncomfortable because it makes you question your own assumptions."
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
90s music legend reveals terrifying ordeal as intruder breaks into hotel room and bosses forced to beef up security
Skunk Anansie star Skin has revealed how a man posing as room service tried to mug her in her hotel room. The British singer and musician, whose real name is Deborah Anne Dyer, is currently on tour across Europe. 6 6 6 She revealed details of the incident on Facebook, saying : "Somebody tried to mug me in my room. They woke me up at 6am after an 18 hour tour bus journey. I was tired and they said it was room service. "The Brixton thing in me said 'Ding ding'. "There were no tray and I thought something was wrong. I cussed the guy and he said he would come back. "It was just about 6am. They found the guy from my description. I did a Karen and said 'I want to speak to the manager'. "The hotel said they had to let him go as our stories did not match up. "They said he was looking for his girlfriend but it was dodgy. "In the end the manager tells me there is no case." The star explained that things could have been a lot worse had she not been alert. "You know sometimes in your life when you have steam blowing," Skin said. "I had to take myself away from this man and the situation. We made the hotel look at the cameras to get a picture of this man. "He was leaning up against my door. He could have pushed the door in with a knife or he could have had Chloroform. "Who knows what would have happened. But I am a fighter and that is going to get me in trouble." Following the scary ordeal, the singer said they are now forced to be more vigilant when staying at hotels. The musician continued: "Now I will have to get one of those little lock things to put in the door. If you are in a band you will need to get one. It can happen to you. "Don't wait for something awful to happen. "Put better security and cameras into your hotels and key cards so you can use the lift. "I am still vexed even telling the story. Never open your door at weird times useless you know who is there." Skin claimed the hotel is continuing to "review their security systems" to increase the hotel guests protection. The hitmaker added: "I'm not trying to get anyone fired, my life mantra is that prevention is better than a cure. Hotels can do a lot to make their clients safe. "The reaction should not be to automatically pit my word against someone clearly being dodgy because you didn't catch him camera doing it. But thanks to Pullman Hotels for listening and doing something about it, that is much appreciated." Skin is lead vocalist of Skunk Anansie. In 2015, Skin joined the judging panel of the Italian version of talent competition The X Factor for one season. The band, which was formed back in 1994, released three albums and sold more than five million records worldwide. They are best know for their 1995 hit Weak. They split in 2001, before reforming in 2009. As of 2024 the band have released six studio albums and toured with including music legends David Bowie, U2, and Lenny Kravitz. 6 6 6
The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Maxine Peake: ‘I have a healthy balance of inferiority complex and slightly prickly ego'
Has your northern accent helped or hindered your career? Eluned51They do call a group of actors a 'moan' of actors. We like to have a good moan. When people hear a regional accent, they immediately make assumptions about your class, financial status and education. People generally think if you've got a strong regional accent, you can't do much else. Obviously there are amazing actors like Jodie Comer who smash that to pieces because people don't realise she's from Liverpool. But because I came out the traps with the northern accent it's probably helped. Do you ever suffer from impostor syndrome and think: 'Why are people so fascinated by me?' RealEdPhillipsI don't ever think people are – I think they are generally quite bored by me! Of course I have impostor syndrome. When you don't get a job, you can't help but think: 'Why didn't I get that job? Why don't they think I'm good enough?' So there's a healthy balance of inferiority complex and slightly prickly ego. What are your memories of filming Funny Cow? Michel3AmsterdamWe had such a good time because it was made with a bunch of friends. We managed to twist Paddy Considine's arm to be part of it. We had Stephen Graham, Christine Bottomley, John Bishop. All these amazing people, so it was quite colourful. I have always been fascinated by female comics' journeys through working men's clubs in the 70s, and the sacrifices and compromises they had to make. The material they were using was horrific, really. It was all about: 'How do you get noticed?' The answer was: 'If you can't beat them, join them.' The politics of the 70s seemed to come crashing down as we were filming it, with Brexit. So we wanted to do a bit of an exposé on British politics as well. Which political figure in the Labour party would you most like to play? NorthwichTomI've always wanted to play Ellen Wilkinson, but I'm far too tall because she was a little bullet: smallish stature, but mighty of heart and soul. I went to drama school with Sally Hawkins, and thought she could play her and I could be Nancy Astor, even though I have no interest in her [Conservative] politics. But they were great friends, which I always thought would make a fascinating drama. Did writing about and playing Beryl Burton in the BBC radio drama Beryl: A Love Story on Two Wheels inspire you to get on the saddle? HenleyRegattaI've always used a bike to get around. Once I started writing about Beryl, I joined a club and went on my first 50km ride and nearly died. But then I became addicted, and would go out three times a week and do 70 or 80km. So, yes, I was inspired by Beryl. I love the camaraderie and the freedom. It's like being a kid, getting on your bike with your pals. It's great. Would you like to do more nihilistic action hero stuff, like you did in Black Mirror? ColdCountyHome I remember an email came through saying: 'You've been offered Black Mirror, can you read the script quickly and let us know?' I said: 'I don't need to read it. It's Black Mirror. Count me in.' I loved doing it because it was the first time I had done anything remotely action based. I'd love to do something on horseback. Don't let the accent fool you: I used to ride a lot when I was younger. So I'd love to do a female western. What was your most memorable moment on the rugby field? scarletnoirGetting absolutely thrashed by Keighley ladies amateur rugby league team, and trying to not get too severely injured. Our trainer used to say: 'Women hold grudges.' If you made a high tackle, even accidentally, you knew revenge was coming your way. Could you persuade Craig Cash to reopen the doors of the Grapes for another series of Early Doors? TheSableHoundReturnsI have tried. We have all tried. We had such a great time. We just laughed from the beginning to the end of the day. It didn't feel like work. It really didn't. I shouldn't say this, but as you know, it was set in a pub, so we went out to an actual pub for a few drinks, then came back and filmed it on the set that looked like a pub. We are all still really close. We've had a few meet-ups and have said: 'Come on Craig, please.' We'd love to do it. But who knows? Line dancing with Diane Morgan in Mandy. Did you have prior experience or did you have to learn? mattyjjLuckily they just taught me on the day, so it was a new skill. That's my favourite screen death: being crushed to death by a disco ball. Only Diane Morgan could come up with that. We've been friends since drama school, so when she said: 'Would you come and be in this?' I was like: 'Absolutely. Why have you not asked me before?' What was it like working with Mike Leigh in Peterloo? bumble I wrote to Mike when I was at drama school, where I did my showcase with Sally Hawkins, a two-hander of the April De Angelis play, Playhouse Creatures. I said: 'We should write to Mike Leigh.' She said: 'Are you sure?' I said: 'We'll do a joint letter.' So we wrote to him and we got a call in, and the rest is history. He's brilliant. He loves actors. He has such a specific way of rehearsing and character development, but he's so thorough and – I don't know whether he'd like me saying – humble. There are no airs and graces about him. He's so passionate about what he does, and I just love the fact that he loves actors. Happy Birthday! How do you feel at 50? TopTrampWell, on my next birthday in two weeks, I'll be 51. I'm at peace with the fact that I'm middle-aged now. I'm embracing it. Turning 40 was more difficult. Now I think: 'I'm still here', and that can't be looked upon lightly. You narrated the Transmissions: The Definitive Story of Joy Division and New Order podcast. Top three New Order songs? CraigThePaigBizarre Love Triangle. True Faith. Temptation. I still remember getting Substance when I was a teenager at school. That album – even though it was a compilation – changed my life. I had it on double cassette. My mum would say: 'Go and set the table', and I couldn't hear her because I'd have it blasting in my ears on my Walkman. Words of War is on digital platforms
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Anais Gallagher reveals the one key piece of advice her famous parents gave her growing up as she poses with fellow Oasis offspring Lennon, Gene and Molly ahead of reunion tour
Liam and Noel Gallagher 's children are firmly moving into the spotlight as the Oasis offspring posed for a group shot for W Magazine this week ahead of the band's highly-anticipated reunion tour. The duo are getting back together for a string of sold-out shows after a rocky past - the first of which takes place on July 4 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Ahead of the show the musicians' children have spoken candidly about their upbringings with such famous parents and what they are expecting from the show. Anaïs, 25, - the daughter of Noel and Meg Mathews - shared the one key piece of advice she took from her parents to keep her grounded while growing up in the spotlight. She told how when she was a child she had assumed that every kid got the opportunity to do incredible things like being taken to see the Harry Potter film set until her parents firmly spoke to her about it. Anaïs explained: 'They said, ''You're different, but that doesn't mean you're better than anybody else.'' I think I've kept that in mind throughout my whole life.' She also said that her mum and dad never put any pressure on her to follow a certain career path or live up to their success in a similar field. The photographer explained: 'My generation has been told that the sky is the limit and that if you dream big, you can invent an app and become a billionaire. 'But that is such a small fraction of the population. My parents were always like, do whatever makes you happy - you don't need to be this big superstar.' For the shoot she posed with her three cousins wearing a stylish blue and grey checked outfit. Elsewhere in the interview her cousin Lennon, 25, - the son of Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit - gave some exciting hints about the upcoming shows and what to expect. He said: 'I can't wait. It's a massive, monumental thing, and it's going to be fantastic.' The model then joked he was 'pre-preparing his liver now' by drinking a lot of electrolytes ahead of the shows as he plans to go to as many as he can in the UK. Liam's pregnant daughter Molly Moorish looked stunning for the shoot as she posed in a red leather jacket. Liam fathered Molly, 27, in 1998 with singer Lisa Moorish - two months into his marriage with Patsy Kensit - but was not involved in her life until 2018. Gene, 24, meanwhile is the son of Liam and All Saints singer Nicole Appleton. It comes as Oasis's 23 song set list for their much-anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off on Friday, can be exclusively revealed by MailOnline It comes as Oasis's 23 song set list for their much-anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off on Friday, can be exclusively revealed by MailOnline. The eldest of the duo Noel, 58, was seen arriving in Cardiff on Wednesday as rehearsals for their opening gig at the city's Principality Stadium on Friday have started. Sources close to the brothers told MailOnline: 'It's all gearing up now. Technical rehearsals for the band started on Monday and then Noel and Liam joined them a couple of days later. 'But Liam barely even stayed for the first eight songs before leaving the rehearsals early and Noel continued on his own.' After 15 years, the brothers will finally reunite for 41 shows across Europe and the 900,000 fans who have eagerly snapped up tickets will not be disappointed with the set list which is crammed with the nineties band's classics. Opening with Acquiesce - a song from their first 1995 album, they will follow with Morning Glory the titular song of the second studio album with Supersonic playing sixth. Elsewhere Liam, 52, and Noel will play Half the World Away, Slide Away, Live Forever before finishing with their three most popular songs Don't Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova. And ahead of the highly-anticipated evening, footage and pictures from a special drone show over Cardiff Principality enticed. Ahead of the brothers' reunion, the duo lit up the sky with brightly coloured drones which spelt out the word 'OASIS'.
