Click here to browse video clips from session one

Click here to browse video clips from session two

Click here to browse video clips and materials from session three

Click here to browse video clips and materials from session four.

Click here to browse materials from session four.

Click here to browse video clips from session five.

Collecting L8’s Oral Histories at Granby Winter Garden

Over November and December 2023, the African Diaspora Archive Project led by Michelle Peterkin-Walker (curator-in-residence) hosted a series of events at the Winter Garden to collect stories of Black cultural history in Liverpool.

With this, we wanted to shine a light on the Black presence in Liverpool, and empower the Black community to tell their own narratives – reminiscing and celebrating the activities and achievements of local Black people.

Here is some documentation to share with all.

Session 1: Back in the Day Stories 

With this session, we looked back at the festivals, activities, and celebrations that happened in L8. Do you remember African Liberation Day in the 80’s? What about Larks in the Park? What was your favourite disco: The Meff or The Black-E?

“For me as a youth I’d just walk the streets, going on bus rides with Save Away that lasted for weeks because you would rub off the date… and hanging outside Da Meff but not going in”

“It was good everybody sat on doorsteps, my friend lived on Beaconsfield and it was so different, you’d just see everyone out in the street“

“It’s like Soul Train. Everybody had to watch it, but it was only screened in the Black-E. They were the first to have video and teach people how to use the video.”

“When I was younger there was quite a few youth clubs but now there isn’t any... I’m 24 years' old”… “In last 12 years, 70% of youth clubs have been closed.”

“When we were growing up our doors were always open… there was different vibes.”

Further links:
https://yorelensonl8.co.uk/films/
https://lbah.co.uk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8NuzmhSCT8

Session 2: Windrush Oral Histories

We’ve heard London and Birmingham stories, now it’s time to capture Liverpool’s Windrush Stories. This session shared experiences about ‘Coming to the UK’, the major contribution Caribbean people have made to society, and views on the ‘Windrush Scandal.’

“One of the stories that doesn’t really get talked about are the children left behind… what happened to them”

“I was left with my grandmother from 6 months old … we don’t recognise our mothers as ‘mommy’, but my grandmother is everything to me.”

“I thought everybody was Jamaican – that every Black person I saw was Jamaican!”

“There was 101 Club and Embassy. I used to go 101 Club on Sunday with my Dad – there was loads of places.”

“We has Stanley House before the Caribbean Centre was given to Black people, because it used to have the Black hand on it. It was lovely in there.“

“My parents came, studied and didn’t stay as the cold wasn’t for them.”

“In 1976, Da Methodist (Da Neff) took us to see Bob Marley.” 

Further links:
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/bhm-firsts/windrush-pioneer-dame-jocelyn-barrow/
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/families/black-londoners-through-time/windrush-stories
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/4/18/the-uks-windrush-generation-whats-the-scandal-about
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43782241
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NME-9ot2Lqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbMIK1Szk1Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ep_uUNYnPE
https://www.facebook.com/newdradio/videos/10157714431626816/

Session 3: Liverpool Caribbean Carnival Stories

What’s your memory of Liverpool Caribbean Carnival in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s? In this session, we heard priceless memories about the excitement, music, food, joy and fun.

“Liverpool Carnival started in Late 70‘s, the youth were at the forefront of organising it…not decision making…”

“It all happened around the Caribbean Centre. We’d dress the floats, it just had that energy and that vibe – excited to get on floats with your costume full of pride. It was lovely.”

“Our first costumes I remember making was American Footballers with big shoulder pads and shirts!” 

“In them day it was really good. We don’t even have one now… I’d run outside when I came past my house.”

“We all grew up in youth clubs and going into different ones. Carnival represented all of them, not just Caribbean Centre.”

“You make a lot of friends, travelling around different Carnivals, making connections, meeting up with the same people, friendships… its lost now. A woman from Nottingham made the best cakes and sweet potato pudding.” 

“In 1984 I filmed in the Caribbean, that’s 40years ago…” 

“Nostalgia is really important. We see community, heritage, fun, artists... this whole creativity….”

Further links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iGtAq43DK0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEWV-XXE4e8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyhMzmlD8sg

Session 4: Shadow – Legend & Visionary

Let’s construct an archive on this great man. We swapped stories, memories and quirky tales about his massive contribution to Carnival, so that his legacy can live on.

“As a youth I remember him – even before Carnival started in the late 70’s. He had an image as a bit eccentric. The guy was theatrical even in his everyday.”

“He‘s crucial to performance art, theatre, visual arts, fine arts.. the whole masquerade. I think he was great.”

“I was scared of Shadow. I was small, and seeing his hunch back…so convincing and phenomenal.”

“(In the book) it said he lived alone with his Alsatian dog…”

“He was a significant character here, he was a big as the real thing to me, or Levi Tarfari. For people who’ve been celebrated for performance for decades in this community, he’s as significant as that.”

“We have carnival in Jamaica. People dress up in costumes and parade… but Trinidad is the best one.”

Further links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbl8t7WLgWc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iGtAq43DK0

Session 5: Leroy Cooper – Saluting Scoops

This was a special evening to celebrate and honour Leroy ‘Scoops’ Cooper – sharing stories about engaging with Leroy on his journey in documenting our community.

“It’s about creating something, a Trust where the family can still benefit. So you know that the things are safe and helps to develop the community…”

“We can all place personal value on something we collect without realising its value to the community...”

Further links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW1Lx996ccE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VwcyYm0OKE

Session 5: Partna/Partner Stories

This was a session to hear about how Caribbean folk in London used ‘Partna’ to create the first Credit Unions in the UK. Have you ever thrown a hand? How did Partna help you or your family?

“I was amazed to learn that Partna was the basis for the start of the first Credit Unions in London, created by Caribbean people” 

“Participatory Economics, everybody’s skill, everybody will share between each other…bring back money, resources and know-how back into the community… works well for the environment, finances and wellbeing of the community.”

Further links:

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/online-collections/blog/community-savings-and-the-pardner-hand
https://www.youtube.com/@mybaobablearning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iS9A1GSINk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiV7wNuoGe0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiV7wNuoGe0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzbJ7qbFe0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzbJ7qbFe0s
https://app.smartify.org/en-GB/tours/pardner-hand