Poised, elegant and regal - never before seen images depicting black people in Britain prior to 1938 are on display at Rivington Place gallery, as part of the Black Chronicles II exhibition. Kalulu, seen here, is often pictured with explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley as 'his boy'. Here, he holds his own with striking poise.
Kalulu (Ndugu M'Hali). London Stereoscopic Company, 8 August 1872.
Courtesy of Paul Frecker collection / The Library of Nineteenth-Century Photography.
The 'missing chapter' in British history —
Born in 1860 in St. Croix, then the Danish West Indies, Peter Jackson -- pictured -- was an accomplished boxing champion who spent long periods of time touring Europe. In England, he staged the famous fight against Jem Smith at the Pelican Club in 1889. In 1888 he claimed the title of Australian Heavyweight Champion. He died from tuberculosis in Sydney in 1901.
Peter Jackson. London Stereoscopic Company, 2 December 1889.
Pictured is Eleanor Xiniwe of The African Choir - a group of entertainers from South Africa who toured Britain between 1891-93. The group left Africa for Europe at the end of the 19th century on a mission to raise funds for education, and even performed for Queen Victoria.
Eleanor Xiniwe, The African Choir. London Stereoscopic Company, 1891.
Photographs were also retrieved from private collectors who have never displayed their collections to the public before. A substantial contributor, Val Wilmer -- a noted photographer and writer who specializes in Jazz, gospel and Blues -- has been collecting carte-de-visites documenting black Britain for over 30 years. Unidentified sitter. Liverpool, 1880s. Photographer/Studio: Medrington.
Courtesy of Val Wilmer collection
The 'missing chapter' in British history —
Sargano Alicamousa Aboyne, pictured, was a Lion and tiger trainer who traveled to London as a teenager and worked and toured throughout Europe, working in Astley's Amphitheater and George Sanger's London theatre.
Dejazmatch Alamayou Tewodros (1861-1879), 'Prince of Ethiopia', was orphaned aged seven following the British attack on Magdala, Abyssinia and was brought to England by Sir Robert Napier, placed in the care of explorer Captain Tristam Speedy. Tewodros died in England in 1879 from pleurisy.
Prince Alamayou. Isle of Wight, 1868. Photographer: Julia Margaret Cameron.
Courtesy of Jenny Allsworth collection
The 'missing chapter' in British history —
The history of Black Britain is often told from 1948, the year the "Empire Windrush" ship arrived on British soil. Images like this one are easily retrievable from a brief internet search, but the aim of Black Chronicles II is to go back even further.
Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin are pictured arriving at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush.
