Black Victorians: Photos Unseen For 120 Years

On September 17, 2014 by Tim Newman

The following photos are taken from an exhibition of rare photographs of black people in Victorian England. The series is titled Black Chronicles II. It showcases photographs of some of the first black people to live in the UK.

Many of the photos are publicity shots of a choir which toured Britain from 1891 – 1893. The choir was raising money for a Christian school in their home country, they even had the privilege of singing for Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight.

The portraits were rediscovered by Renée Mussai whilst digging through the Hulton Archive as part of her PhD project. no one knew the photos existed, they hadn’t seen the light of day since 1891 when they were part of a piece in the London Illustrated News. The history behind some of the photos below is fascinating. There are sons of Princes, champion boxers and early freak show embarrassments, but as with most of the posts I plonk on your doorstep, it’s the pictures which I love.

African Choir Member, 1891

Young Dandy c 1890

African Choir Member, 1891

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African Choir Member, 1891

Albert Jonas and John Xiniwe of the African Choir

Eleanor Xiniwe of the African Choir, 1891

“Friendly Zulu” Exhibition

This chap was brought to Britain with a Zulu troupe during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and was part of explorer Guillermo Antonio Farini’s exhibition of ‘Friendly Zulus’ in London, 1879. Click here for more Victorian Freak Show Posters.

Johanna Jonkers of the African Choir

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Major Musa Bhai, 3 November 1890

Major Musa Bhai arrived in England in 1888 with the Booth family who started the Salvation Army, hence the jaunty head ribbon.

Peter Jackson, 2 December 1889

Jackson was born in the West Indies but toured Europe as a champion boxer, knocking out whitey wherever he roamed. In 1888 he claimed the Australian heavyweight title.

Prince Alamayou. Isle of Wight,1868

Prince Alamayou has a certain sadness to him, he was orphaned aged 7 when his father killed himself rather than be taken by the British in his castle in Abyssinia. He was adopted by the incredibly named Captain Tristram Speedy and died in 1879 from pleurisy.