Malik Al Nasir on slavery, sugar, and legacy

Thu Oct 02 2025 at 05:30 pm to 06:30 pm UTC+01:00

National Library of Scotland | Edinburgh

National Library of Scotland
Publisher/HostNational Library of Scotland
Malik Al Nasir on slavery, sugar, and legacy
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Award-winning British author and poet Malik Al Nasir explores Black and British history and his new book, ‘Searching For My Slave Roots’.
About this Event

He will trace his extraordinary journey to uncover his lineage—a story that intertwines enslaved Africans in Guyana with slaveholding dynasties in Scotland, England, and the Netherlands. Through vivid storytelling, he reveals how the transatlantic slave trade shaped economies, cities like Liverpool and Glasgow, and even modern financial institutions, while exposing enduring legacies of trauma and privilege across generations.

Announced as the winner of the University of Cambridge’s Vice-Chancellor’s Global Impact Award, Malik’s work challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about sugar’s bitter origins and the systemic exploitation that fuelled it. Discover how his personal quest illuminates Scotland’s overlooked role in slavery, the paradox of his dual heritage, and the urgent need for reconciliation with this buried past.

This event is part of the National Library of Scotland’s Black History Month programme.




About the speaker

Malik Al Nasir is a British author and performance poet. He is the leader of the band Malik & the O.G's. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge.




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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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