liverpool black history research group
Liverpool
Liverpool Black History Research Group is a collective of community led
researchers investigating and raising awareness of Liverpool’s long black
presence. The important contribution of people of African descent to Liverpool’s
development has gone largely unacknowledged and we are committed to revealing
this forgotten history. We adopted the Sankofa bird as a part of our logo,
substituting it for one of the two Liver birds, which top the iconic Liver
building on Liverpool’s waterfront. The Liver bird is widely accepted as the
emblem of Liverpool. The Sankofa is a mythical creature that flies forwards,
while looking backwards, with an egg (symbolising the future) in its mouth. It
is an Akan symbol of the people of modern day Ghana and is associated with a
proverb ‘Sankofa w’onkyir’ which translates as “it is not wrong to go back for
that which you have forgotten” The group is led by local historian and PhD
student, Laurence Westgaph. Its purpose is to share historical knowledge and
offer instruction in research skills and techniques, providing learning,
training and employment opportunities for the people of Liverpool. Liverpool
Black History Research Group is registered as a not for profit business, based
at the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre.
