Name: “Histories and legacies of African Europeans” – Prof Olivette Otele
Start: 2026-03-22T14:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-22T15:00:00+00:00
Location: The Riverfront

$\u201cHistories and legacies of African Europeans\u201d \u2013 Prof Olivette Otele$

African Europeans who transformed their communities and had an impact on British and other European countries histories
About this Event

What do legendary figures such as Saint Maurice, the Queen of Sheba, the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, Black models in European arts and powerful educators in 21st century Britain have in common? Come and find out. This talk will explore the journeys of African Europeans who transformed their communities and had an impact on British and other European countries histories.

Olivette Otele is a Distinguished Research Professor of the Legacies and Memory of Slavery at SOAS, University of London. She holds a Ph.D. from La Sorbonne, France. She is a former Vice President of the Royal Historical Society. She received an Honorary Degree from Concordia University, Canada. She was a judge of the International Booker Prize. Olivette is a regular contributor to the press (BBC, Guardian, Elle, GQ), a broadcaster (BBC, Netflix), a consultant for films and documentaries (Netflix, Disney+). She has written extensively on the histories of people of African Descent and colonial history. Her book African Europeans was shortlisted for the LA Time Book Prize in 2022. She also advises policy-makers, private companies and NGOs on colonial history and restorative justice (Welsh Government, Guardian newspaper, etc). Olivette lives in Newport.

This event is part of the Newport Festival of Words, 20th - 22nd March 2026