Michael Ohajuru: in conversation with Lou Mensah

Michael Ohajuru is a London-based art historian who returns to the podcast to discuss the John Blanke project, a large gathering of artists and historians who have come together to re-imagine John Blanke, the black trumpeter to the courts of Henry 7th and Henry 8th and the first person of African descent in British history that we have both a visual and written record of. The participating artists include Keith Piper, Wole Lagunju, Phoebe Boswell, Paul Dash and Larry Achiampong. David Olusoga Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester says of the project:"The John Blanke Project redefines historical exploration by merging practical scholarship with innovation and critical imagination. Anchored in social justice, it reveals the overlooked narratives of Black Tudor England, enriching our grasp of diversity and British identity. By blending art and history, it encourages a deeper, empathetic engagement with our shared past, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable understanding of history."Thanks for listening to this independent podcast. You can support this work by reviewing and sharing the podcast or becoming a Shade Art Review subscriber.Read Shade Art Review Shade Art Review Series 10 | 20% discount codeShade Podcast InstagramShade Podcast is Executive produced and hosted by Lou MensahMusic King Henry IV for Shade Podcast by Brian JacksonEditing and mixing by Tess DavidsonEditorial support from Anne Kimunguyi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Shade Media was founded in 2019 by photographer Lou Mensah to create a space for Black artists and creative practitioners to talk about their work in their own way. This critically acclaimed podcast features interviews with artists, critics, writers and visionaries including John Akomfrah, Amy Sherald, Lauren Michele Jackson and Ekow Eshun. It's host Lou has been nominated as Best Arts and Culture Producer and also for the Grassroots Production Award in the 2024 AudioUK awards. She was named Producer of the Year by the UK Audio Network in 2024. Shade Podcast further garnered the Best Art Podcast gong at the 2021 British Podcast Awards. Shade Art Review, which debuted in September 2023, is a biweekly arts and culture magazine on Substack.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.