London: Guided tour reveals the little-known history of black British Muslims

In London, a unique guided tour traces the forgotten history of black Muslims in the country, with a journey from iconic sites from Westminster to the National Gallery. Organized by Halal Tourism Britain, this tour pays tribute to black Muslims who have marked British history and aims to offer a new perspective on London.

The journey begins at Caxton Hall, the building where suffragettes met in the early 20th century and which also hosted some of the first Muslim Friday prayers in 1908. The Abdulmaalik Tailor guide highlights figures like Dusé Mohamed Ali, a Sudanese-Egyptian activist and founder of Fleet Street’s first black-run newspaper, committed to opposing racism and colonialism.

Further on, Abdulmaalik Tailor discusses Somali sailors who served in the Royal Navy, notably during the Falklands War, a little-known chapter in British history. The visit also focuses on the absence of memorials dedicated to the millions of African victims of the transatlantic slave trade, unlike British abolitionists.

The walk also highlights the historical figure of John Blanke, trumpeter at the court of Henry VIII, whose image is among the first known portraits of a black man in England. Present in the archives, Blanke, who often wore a turban, testifies to the diversity at the Tudor court, opening a reflection on the representation of blacks in British history.

Along the way, this visit recalls the story of Omar Ibn Said, a Muslim scholar captured in Africa and enslaved in America, as well as that of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, a freed slave who posed for a portrait, now on display at the National Gallery.

This guided tour of London illuminates an often overlooked part of British history, revealing the contributions and resilience of black Muslims throughout the centuries. By retracing the steps of emblematic figures such as Dusé Mohamed Ali, Omar Ibn Said, and Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, this walk offers a more inclusive vision of history and pays tribute to these men and women who left their mark on British heritage. This initiative shows the importance of diversifying historical stories and exploring, beyond traditional museums and monuments, new perspectives on London’s past and diversity.