Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) is a commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme founded by Jak Beula that highlights the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain. The first NJCT heritage plaque, honouring Bob Marley, was unveiled in 2006 after "two years of research and behind the scenes negotiating".[1][2] The scheme has been run and managed by the not-for-profit organization Nubian Jak Trust Ltd since August 2016, with a remit to commemorate and celebrate the diverse history of modern Britain. Its objectives include the promotion of social equality and to encourage activities that promote cultural diversity in society.
Overview
editThe Trust was founded by Jak Beula and works in partnership with educational groups, cultural institutions, local government, and public- and private-sector organizations. Its activities include exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and learning programmes, as well as managing a national plaque and sculpture scheme.
The scheme, which is the only one of its kind in Europe, highlights BME presence in Britain by commemorating individuals who have made a recognisable contribution to the nation.[3] These individuals (mostly deceased) are either nominated by members of the public, or recommended by a special panel within the Trust, to receive a commemorative plaque. One of the most famous plaques of recent years is the Bob Marley Blue Plaque,[4] which the Nubian Jak Community Trust arranged in partnership with the Mayor of London in October 2006.[5] It was the first commemorative event organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, as well as also being County Hall's first ever blue plaque. The installation of the Bob Marley plaque was filmed as a feature for a 90-minute Arena documentary aired on BBC1 the following October called Bob Marley: Exodus 77.[6]
The next three Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques were installed as part of the bicentenary commemoration for the British abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807.
The first of the plaques installed in 2007 had a public ceremony unveiling inside Luton Town Hall in February 2007. The Luton Bicentenary Plaque[7] is now installed outside Luton Central Library in Central Square.
This was followed by the historic plaque to Ignatius Sancho[8] erected in October 2007 at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the City of Westminster, near which site Sancho lived and had a grocery store.[9] It is the only black plaque in Whitehall. A couple of weeks later, on 26 October,[10] another NJCT bronze plaque was installed on Senate House, part of the University of London, to Bermuda-born abolitionist and author Mary Prince.[11][10][12][13]
On 24 August 2018, Nubian Jak unveiled the world's largest blue plaque, honouring the pioneers of the Notting Hill Carnival.[14][15]
By 2019, the Nubian Jak Community Trust Plaque Scheme had installed 50 commemorative plaques around the UK.[16][17]
In November 2020, the "Black Plaque Project", a joint campaign by Havas London and Nubian Jak Community Trust to honour Black Londoners, was launched to address the lack of diversity in the capital's "blue plaques".[18][19] Nubian Jak blue plaques will subsequently replace the black plaques.[20]
On 1 April 2021, a blue plaque was installed at 16-18 Trinity Gardens, Brixton, where Choice FM, the UK's only black radio station to have held a London-wide commercial licence, was launched, co-founded by Neil Kenlock and Yvonne Thompson.[21]
Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques 2006–present
edit
- The Honourable Bob Marley plaque: October 2006[4]
- Luton Bicentenary plaque: February 2007[7]
- Ignatius Sancho plaque (Stone): October 2007[8]
- Mary Prince plaque (Bronze): October 2007[10]
- Connie Mark plaque: May 2008[22]
- Claudia Jones plaque x 2 (Bronze and Blue): August 2008[23]
- Kelso Cochrane plaque: May 2009[24]
- Chief Amy Ashwood Garvey plaque: November 2009[25]
- ANC/Nelson Mandela anniversary plaque: February 2010[26]
- Learie, Lord Constantine plaque: September 2010[27]
- Rudy Narayan plaque: November 2010[28]
- Mayor John Archer Plaque: December 2010[29]
- New Cross Fire plaque: January 2011[30]
- George Padmore Plaque: June 2011[31][32][33][34]
- Claudia Jones plaque: August 2011[35][36]
- Rhaune Laslett plaque: August 2011[35]
- Frank Crichlow plaque: December 2011[37]
- Malcolm X plaque: February 2012[38][39][40]
- Dennis Brown plaque: April 2012[41]
- Russell Henderson plaque: August 2012[42]
- Leslie Palmer plaque: August 2012[43]
- Arthur Wint plaque: October 2012[44]
- Bernie Grant MP Plaque: October 2012[45]
- Samuel Coleridge Taylor Plaque: December 2012[46]
- Frederick Douglass plaque: February 2013[47]
- Frank Bates plaque: May 2013[48][49]
- Stephen Lawrence anniversary plaque: June 2013[50]
- Pete Robinson Plaque: July 2013[51][52]
- Laurie Cunningham plaque: October 2013[53][54]
- Dr John Alcindor plaque: July 2014[55][56]
- George Africanus plaque: October 2014[57][58]
- Walter Tull plaque: October 2014[59][60]
- Sidney Bechet plaque: November 2014[61][62]
- British West Indies Regiment Seaford plaques x 2, November 2015[63][64] and March 2018[65][66][67][68][69]
- Cy Grant plaque: November 2017[70][71]
- Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers plaque: August 2018[72][73]
- Daphne Steele plaque: 16 October 2018[74][75][76][77]
- Eric Huntley and Jessica Huntley plaque: October 2018[78]
- Ida B. Wells plaque, 12 February 2019[79][80]
- Harold Moody, League of Coloured Peoples anniversary plaque: 13 March 2019[81][82]
- Cecile Nobrega plaque, 1 June 2019.[83][84][85]
- Plaque commemorating the contribution of African-American soldiers based in Wales in World War II, installed at RAF Carew Cheriton on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 6 June 2019.[86][87][88]
- Phillis Wheatley plaque, 16 July 2019.[89][90][91]
- Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer plaque at the former site of Basing Street Studios in London where The Wailers' albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' were completed, as well as the Bob Marley and the Wailers album Exodus, October 2019.[92]
- "In Memory of Septimius Severus 145–211, African Roman Emperor", October 2019.[17]
- Longfield Hall (home of the Dark and Light Theatre) plaque, 27 October 2019.[93][94]
- Emma Clarke plaque, 2 December 2019.[95]
- Dr George Alfred Busby plaque, 9 March 2020.[96][97]
- Crystal Palace Bowl, venue where Bob Marley played his last and biggest London concert and debuted "Redemption Song".[98]
- Winifred Atwell, at the site of her former hair salon, Chaucer Road, Brixton, south London, November 2020.[99][100][101][20]
- Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade, proprietors of the pioneering Dyke & Dryden Black haircare business, at the site of a wig and cosmetic shop they ran in Tottenham, November 2020.[102]
- Errol Brown, Black plaque outside the RAK Studios in St John's Wood, November 2020.[103]
- Choice FM, blue plaque, Trinity Gardens, Brixton, 1 April 2021.[104]
- William Cuffay and his father Chatham Cuffay, plaque at Chatham Historic Dockyard, 15 July 2021.[105][106]
- Darcus Howe, Railton Road, Brixton, 4 January 2022.[107]
- Michael Ibru, at his former kensington home, 7 April 2023.[108]
African and Caribbean War Memorial
editOn Armistice Day 2014, as part of the four-year centenary commemorating World War I, the Nubian Jak Community Trust temporarily displayed Britain's first dedicated African and Caribbean War Memorial to servicemen and women from Africa and the Caribbean, who served alongside Britain and the Allied Forces during World War I and World War II at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, before its eventual permanent installation on London's Windrush Square, on 22 June 2017.[109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117]
References
edit- ^ "London honours legendary reggae artist Bob Marley with heritage plaque", Africa Unite, 26 October 2006.
- ^ Glen Munro, "Honouring Our Plaque Heroes", The Voice, 28 December 2016.
- ^ Kim Sherwood, "New Plaques for Black Icons: Sancho, Aldridge and Prince", Culture24, 11 October 2007.
- ^ a b Hugh Muir, "Blue plaque marks flats that put Marley on road to fame", The Guardian, 27 October 2006.
- ^ "Plaque honours memories of Marley", BBC News, 26 October 2006.
- ^ "2007-07-03 ✡ Bob Marley Exodus '77 - BBC documentary". YouTube.
- ^ a b "Nubian Jak Community Trust Commemorative Plaques 2006 – 2012", SlidePlayer.
- ^ a b "Ignatius Sancho", The Abolition of Slavery in London, 21 September 2012.
- ^ Bethan Bell, "Where are the blue plaques for black and Asian people?", BBC News, 3 October 2016.
- ^ a b c Caroline Mallan, "Slave girl's bravery remembered", BBC News, 26 October 2007.
- ^ Sara Wajid, "Plaque Tribute For Mary Prince, Author And Abolitionist", Culture24, 6 November 2007.
- ^ "Premier Unveils Plaque Honouring Mary Prince". Bernews. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Interview: Bermudian Slave Owner Descendant". Bernews. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "World's largest Blue Plaque unveiling honouring the pioneers of Notting Hill Carnival", Westway Trust.
- ^ "World’s Largest Blue Plaque Honouring Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers". 24 August 2018. YouTube video.
- ^ "The untold stories of black war heroes come to light", The Voice Online, 6 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Nubian Jak Community Trust Commemorative Plaques 2006 -2020". Nubian Jak.
- ^ "Black Plaque Project: A joint campaign to honour Black Londoners". ITV News. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Nubian Jak "The Black Plaque Project" by Havas London". Campaign. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Britain's first Black pop star to be honoured in Brixton". Brixton Blog. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Immortalised in Brixton: the place where Black music became the norm". Brixton Blog. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "Jamaican Community Activist Honoured with Blue Plaque in London", Jamaica Information Service, 4 July 2008.
- ^ "'Formidable' Claudia the Carnival Queen", GetWestLondon, 28 August 2008.
- ^ "Kelso Cochrane Honoured With A Blue Plaque", itzCaribbean, 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Blue Plaque honour for Amy Garvey", Jamaica Observer, 11 November 2009.
- ^ Andrew Johnson, "MP’s Commons tribute to Nelson Mandela recalls the ‘massive surveillance’ of Islington refuge for anti-apartheid fighters", Islington Tribune, 13 December 2013.
- ^ Sandra Jackson-Opoku, "Black London History", Soul Of America.
- ^ "Civil rights: Rudy Narayan honoured", Operation Black Vote, 15 November 2010.
- ^ "Pupils From Putney & Wandsworth Schools To Unveil Tribute To London's First Black Mayor", PutneySW15.com, 14 December 2010.
- ^ "New Cross Fire - New Cross Road, London, UK", Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com.
- ^ "Anti-colonial campaigner commemorated with plaque", BBC News London, 28 June 2011.
- ^ John Gulliver, "Toast to slayer of empires"Archived 1 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Camden New Journal, 30 June 2011.
- ^ Josie Hinton (30 June 2011). "Blue Plaque pays tribute to Pan-Africanist George Padmore". Camden Review.
- ^ Cameron Duodu, "George Padmore commemorated with plaque in London", Pambazuka News, 30 June 2011.
- ^ a b Hazelann Williams, "Notting Hill Carnival 'Mothers' Honoured", The Voice, 26 August 2011.
- ^ Jennifer Hudson, "The forgotten black history of London’s famous Notting Hill neighborhood", mic.com, 31 October 2018.
- ^ Lizabeth Davis, "Mangrove Founder Honoured", The Voice, 6 December 2011.
- ^ Elizabeth Pears, "Malcolm X Remembered In Birmingham", The Voice, 21 February 2012.
- ^ Steve Bradley, "New plaque marks the day Malcolm X visited Smethwick", Birmingham Mail, 22 February 2012.
- ^ Rangzeb Hussain, "12th February 1965: The day Malcolm X came to Smethwick", I Am Birmingham, 12 February 2020.
- ^ Lorraine King, "Blue plaque erected in Harlesden in honour of reggae singer Dennis Brown", Kilburn Times, 10 April 2012.
- ^ Mick Hutton, "Russ Henderson: Inspirational jazz pianist and steel-pan player who played a central role in establishing the Notting Hill Carnival", The Independent, 14 September 2015.
- ^ Berny Torre, "Leslie Palmer and Russell Henderson to be honoured", Operation Black Vote, 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Jamaica’s Gentle Giant Honoured in London", Jamaica Information Service, 21 October 2012.
- ^ "N15: There were never such devoted Sisters", Walking London one postcode at a time, 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Conductor Alwyn unveils blue plaque to Croydon composer", Inside Croydon, 2 January 2013.
- ^ Francine Fernandes, "Frederick Douglass: Blue Plaque Unveiling", Operation Black Vote, 19 February 2013.
- ^ "Plaque: Frank Bates", Memorial, London Remembers.
- ^ "London jazz legend commemorated", ITV News, 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Plaque: Stephen Lawrence - Deptford", Memorial, London Remembers.
- ^ "Plaque: Pete Robinson", Memorial, London Remembers.
- ^ "Plaques – blue and otherwise", The Brixton Society.
- ^ "Leyton Orient To Unveil Laurie Cunningham Plaque", Kick It Out, 4 October 2013.
- ^ Amelia Burr, "Blue plaque tribute to Leyton Orient legend, Laurie Cunningham", West London & West Essex Guardian, 7 October 2013.
- ^ William McLennan, "Heritage plaque tribute to doctor who treated wounded soldiers as they returned from First World War battlefields", West End Extra, 25 July 2014.
- ^ "John Alcindor: the famous black doctor of Paddington and WWI local hero", British Red Cross. Updated 2 October 2023.
- ^ Norma Gregory, "Blue Heritage Plaque Unveiled for George Africanus", Nottingham News Centre, 10 October 2014.
- ^ "George Africanus Tram unveiled in Nottingham", Nottingham News Centre.
- ^ "Pioneering footballer and WW1 soldier Walter Tull honoured with plaque in London", Centenary News, 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Nubian Jak Unveils Plaque to Walter Tull", Sean Creighton, 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Jazz Giant and Pioneer, Sidney Bechet, Honoured With Blue Heritage Plaque in Fitzrovia", BenTV, 20 November 2014.
- ^ Martin Chilton, "Sidney Bechet awarded blue plaque", The Telegraph, 25 November 2014.
- ^ Shez Chung Blake, "African and Caribbean War Memorial unveiled at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton – photos", Brixton Buzz, 12 November 2014.
- ^ "Plaque to honour the West Indies fallen", Eastbourne Herald, 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Blue Plaque Unveiling for the British West Indies Regiment", Haven News, 2 March 2018.
- ^ "New memorial to British West Indies Regiment on Sussex coast", Centenary News, 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Plaque honours brave men from far away islands", Sussex Express, 15 March 2018.
- ^ "The West Indian Regiment", Seaford Heritage Trail.
- ^ Chris Kempshall, "Blue Plaques in Seaford for West Indian Soldiers", The First World War, East Sussex.
- ^ Jon King, "Life and work of black theatre pioneer Cy Grant to be marked with blue plaque at icon’s Highgate home", Ham & High, 10 November 2017.
- ^ Sean Creighton, "Nubian Jak unveils plaque to Cy Grant on Armistice Remembrance Day", History & Social Action News and Events, 12 November 2017.
- ^ "World’s Largest Blue Plaque Unveiling Honouring The Pioneers Of Notting Hill Carnival", Minority Perspective, 20 August 2018.
- ^ Fayola Douglas, "Blue plaque unveiled for Notting Hill Carnival", London Live, 24 August 2018.
- ^ Amar Mehta, "Former Balham nursing student recognised for her work", Wandsworth Times, 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Daphne Steele – First Black Matron in the NHS", Historycal Roots, 16 October 2016.
- ^ "Blue plaque for inspirational nurse", Ilkley Gazette, 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Windrush Generation Nurse Honoured With Blue Plaque", The Voice, 5 December 2018.
- ^ Michelle Yaa Asantewa, "The Huntley Blue Plaque Memorial Tribute: 'A community Healing Experience'", Way wive wordz, 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Birmingham blue plaque unveiled to commemorate civil rights activist Ida B. Wells", I Am Birmingham, 14 February 2019.
- ^ Washington, Linn (14 February 2019), "Ida Wells Barnett honored in Birmingham, England", The Chicago Crusader.
- ^ Claire Gilderson, "First British Civil Rights Movement founded at YMCA Club", YMCA Club, 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Blue Plaque for Dr Harold Moody", The Weekly Gleaner, 14 March–20 March 2019.
- ^ "Blue Plaque for Cecile Nobrega", The Brixton Society, 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Blue Plaque Unveiling For Cecile Nobrega", Lambeth Life.
- ^ Ibrahim Dogus, "Blue Plaque Unveiling to Cecile Nobrega", 2 June 2019.
- ^ George Thompson, "Plaque for African American D-Day veterans unveiled at Carew", Western Telegraph, 5 June 2019.
- ^ "D-Day: African-American soldiers remembered for war efforts", BBC News, 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Black Soldiers Honored On 75th Anniversary of D-Day", ColorLines, 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Nubian Jak unveils plaque to Phillis Wheatley 16 July", History & Social Action News and Events, 5 July 2019.
- ^ "Phyllis Wheatley – blue plaque unveiling 16 July 2019", African Century Journal, 16 July 2019.
- ^ Elizabeth Ofosuah Johnson, "First black woman to publish a book in English in 1773 finally honoured in UK with a plaque", Face2Face Africa, 22 July 2019.
- ^ Motune, Vic (27 September 2019). "Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to receive Blue Plaque honour". Voice Online. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Fergus Matheson, "First black theatre company honoured with blue plaque", Brixton Blog, 25 October 2019.
- ^ James Twomey, "Grade-II listed building becomes the first to house black theatre company Dark & Light and is honoured with blue plaque", Londonnewsonline, 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Emma Clarke Tribute: Emma Clarke Honoured With Blue Heritage Plaque", The PFA, 5 December 2019.
- ^ Vic Motune, "Honour for pre-Windrush doctor who served poor communities", The Voice, 11 March 2020.
- ^ "Barbadian Doctor/Philanthropist honoured in London", Barbados Today, 12 March 2020.
- ^ Toby Porter, "Crystal Palace Bowl, venue where Bob Marley debuted Redemption Song, marked with a plaque", 20 October 2020.
- ^ Horton, Tom (6 November 2020). "Black plaque honouring pianist Winifred Atwell unveiled in south London". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ "Black plaque honouring pianist Winifred Atwell unveiled in south London". Express & Star. 6 November 2020.
- ^ "First black woman to have a number one single honoured with plaque". ITV News. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Louis, Nathan (15 November 2020). "Three haircare businessmen honoured with black plaque in Tottenham". Enfield Independent.
- ^ Press Association (27 November 2020). "Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown honoured with black plaque". The Guide. Prestwich and Whitefield.
- ^ "Blue heritage plaque unveiled to honour Choice FM". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ Delaney, Sean (15 July 2021). "Plaque unveiled at Chatham Historic dockyard to commemorate black history heroes William and Chatham Cuffay". Kent Online.
- ^ "Memorial Plaque". Medway African and Caribbean Association ( MACA). Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ "Blue plaque for Darcus Howe on Brixton's Railton Road - Brixton Blog". Brixton Blog. 29 December 2021.
- ^ https://guardian.ng/news/nubian-jak-honours-ibru-patriarch-with-blue-heritage-plaque-in-uk/
- ^ "African and Caribbean War Memorial, Brixton", WW2 Talk, 31 January 2017.
- ^ "ACMemorial Unveiling Ceremony 22/6/17", Events, African and Caribbean memorial website.
- ^ "Countdown To Unveiling Of Historic Memorial Begins", The Voice, 22 May 2017.
- ^ Stephen Spark, "Brixton memorial will honour African and Caribbean troops", Soca News, 23 May 2017.
- ^ Linda Quinn, "Brixton’s Windrush Square to be home of the brave", Brixton Bugle Blog, 26 May 2017.
- ^ "First ever memorial to African and Caribbean Service Personnel unveiled in Brixton", Ministry of Defence, 22 June 2017.
- ^ "First war memorial to Afro-Caribbean soldiers unveiled in London", BBC News, 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Sir Michael Fallon hopes to see more ethnic minority recruits join armed forces", Aol, 22 June 2017.
- ^ "African and Caribbean war memorial finally unveiled in Brixton", ODN, 22 June 2017.
External links
edit- Nubian Jak Community Trust website.
- "Discover Multicultural Gems Of London", artdaily.