By African Descendants Forum – 

Welcome to this episode of the African Descendants Forum on Kirklees Local TV. In this series, we celebrate the past, present, and future contributions of African heritage across the globe.

In today’s interview, Dr Milton Brown is joined by the visionary Jamaican/Haitian artist and curator, Paula Ogun Hector.

Paula is the creative force behind the Tapestry of Black Britons, a groundbreaking and evolving artwork that seeks to reshape our national memory.

In this episode, we discuss the tapestry and its focus as a living artwork that honours African and Caribbean contributions to Britain, spanning from the Roman era to the modern day.

We look at how the work interweaves a Yoruba creation story with World War II narratives, blending ancestral mythology with modern history.

Standing at the intersection of art, education, and technology, Paula explains how she uses cross-cultural weaving and digital design to build a more inclusive history.

Paula brings over two decades of experience presenting inclusive histories.

From her work with BBC Black Britain and the Commission for Racial Equality to leading alternative provision for neurodiverse young people, Paula brings both heart and rigour to her mission of commemoration and imagination.