Michael Ohajuru: in conversation with Lou Mensah

Michael Ohajuru is a London-based art historian who returns to the podcast to discuss the John Blanke project, a large gathering of artists and historians who have come together to re-imagine John Blanke, the black trumpeter to the courts of Henry 7th and Henry 8th and the first person of African descent in British history that we have both a visual and written record of. The participating artists include Keith Piper, Wole Lagunju, Phoebe Boswell, Paul Dash and Larry Achiampong.


David Olusoga Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester says of the project:

"The John Blanke Project redefines historical exploration by merging practical scholarship with innovation and critical imagination. Anchored in social justice, it reveals the overlooked narratives of Black Tudor England, enriching our grasp of diversity and British identity. By blending art and history, it encourages a deeper, empathetic engagement with our shared past, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable understanding of history."


Thanks for listening to this independent podcast. You can support this work by reviewing and sharing the podcast or becoming a Shade Art Review subscriber.


Read Shade Art Review 

Shade Art Review Series 10 | 20% discount code

Shade Podcast Instagram

Shade Podcast is Executive produced and hosted by Lou Mensah

Music King Henry IV for Shade Podcast by Brian Jackson

Editing and mixing by Tess Davidson

Editorial support from Anne Kimunguyi

Help support the work that goes into creating Shade Podcast. https://plus.acast.com/s/shadepodcast.




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.