Many Threads, One Fabric: Unwoven Histories of Black Britain
Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast: Explore Caribbean Ancestry & CulturePlay episode
Show notes
In this episode we speak with Paula Ogun Hector, creator of Tapestry of Black Britons, about uncovering and preserving the long, diverse history of people of African and Caribbean descent in Britain. We explore how art, community storytelling and archival research reveal contributions stretching from Roman Britain to the present.
Through tapestry, workshops and exhibitions Paula shows how reclaiming these stories builds belonging, challenges myths about British history, and connects family and national memory across generations.
BIO:
Paula Ogun Hector is a British cultural producer, artist, educator, and founder and Creative Director of Tapestry of Black Britons, a large-scale, touring “living tapestry” project that reimagines British history through the lens of African and Caribbean contributions.
She created the project to address gaps in mainstream historical narratives by highlighting over 1,500 years of Black presence in Britain—from Roman Britain through to the present day. The work combines traditional textile methods, digital design, and community collaboration, resulting in woven and embroidered panels that are continuously developed with artists, schools, and local communities across the UK.
Ogun Hector has over 20 years of experience working in inclusive storytelling and cultural production. Her earlier career includes work in television and media such as BBC programming (Black Britain, When Black Became Beautiful), alongside roles in public relations and cultural organisations including the Commission for Racial Equality, Centrepoint, and the BFI’s Black World Season.
She is also an educator who has developed learning environments and creative programmes, including work supporting neurodiverse young people and delivering workshops in schools across the UK. Her practice focuses on creative wellbeing, education, and expanding opportunities for young people through arts engagement.
Her work is influenced by thinkers and cultural theorists such as Paul Gilroy, Stuart Hall, and curator Okwui Enwezor, particularly in relation to ideas about diaspora, identity, and cultural memory.
Through Tapestry of Black Britons, she continues to develop a national touring project that combines art, history, and community participation, with exhibitions across major UK venues and an expanding educational programme that invites the public to contribute to a more inclusive understanding of British history.
Link:
https://www.tapestryofblackbritons.com/
https://www.voice-online.co.uk/windrush/2026/06/03/bath-to-host-exhibitions-talks-and-church-services-celebrating-the-windrush-generation-later-this-month/
Book The Emotions of Researching your Family Tree: https://a.co/d/0jiaxXxi
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