One of these instances was in 1895, when Kings Khama, Sebele and Bathoen from the Bechuanaland Protectorate (modern Botswana) travelled to Britain.

But Olusoga explores the lives of Africans and West Indians and uncovers moments in history of which I knew nothing. In schools, ‘black history’ often means only learning about enslavement and the Abolition Movement, which puts Britain in a preferable light. I never realised that African and British history had crossed paths literally thousands of years ago. when a Roman unit from North Africa was stationed near Hadrian’s Wall we learn too that 11-12% of Roman York’s population was of African descent. His research takes you way back to the third century A.D. It has been thrilling to read about a subject that is never fully illuminated by the school curriculum, and to learn about history previously unknown to me. Rather than focussing on the British Empire or the slave trade, Olusoga brings to light the stories of forgotten black figures like Tudor trumpeter John Blanke, who lobbied Henry VIII for a promotion – and succeeded.

This should be an essential read for anyone interested in Britain’s history, and a useful one for anyone full stop. As someone really keen on learning about history, I found myself surprised that I knew so little about the extent of Africans’ presence and importance throughout time in Britain. David Olusoga sheds light not only on ‘black history’, but Britain’s history, and reminds us that British history has always been shaped by the world around it.

Black and British by David Olusoga