From Sade to Skepta, Black British music makers have had an enormous influence on British culture and have been incredible contributors to the global music scene, writes Faith Agbonson.
And next month, London’s new V&A East Museum will open its doors with an exhibition showcasing 125 years of Black British music, celebrating the stories and talent that shaped our culture and tracing the origins of era-defining genres including 2 Tone, jungle, trip hop, UK garage, grime and more.
The Music is Black: A British Story, which launches on April 18, tells the stories of early pioneers spanning across four continents as well as highlighting contemporary artists.
With objects from 1900 to today, the exhibition is a multi-sensory experience divided into four moving acts. It ranges from fashion, photography, musical instruments, personal writings and more. More than 200 pieces will be on display, from the legendary Winifred Atwell’s piano to fashion pieces worn by rapper Little Simz.
In partnership with BBC Music, the exhibition also marks the start of The Music is Black festival, a series of programmes, displays and performances held this summer.
The exhibition aims to bridge the gap between modern black artists and the trailblazers that paved the way for them.
“We hope that visitors will emerge with a broader appreciation of Black British music makers, the enormous influence of Black musicality – internationally and domestically – and the legacy of the influence of the African diaspora,” says Jacqueline Springer, curator of the exhibition.
“Music reflects and feeds emotions. It inspires, comforts, offends and entertains. It also awakens memory and punctuates our present. This exhibition provides another dimension in our celebration and understanding of how social and political histories are responded to by people and their cultures to provide the art we all enjoy. This exhibition speaks to modernity and long deep histories; of the legacies of identity and to the music that furnishes our collective and individual memories.”
Broadcaster and presenter Trevor Nelson believes the exhibition will play an important role telling untold stories of the vital contribution of Black British music to UK culture and beyond. He said: “There are so many different colours and shades of Black music, and so many eclectic styles that have emerged from the UK. The fact that we haven’t had a national exhibition on Black British music is quite surprising to me. I feel it needs to be documented.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the music capital of the world and at the heart of that success is the incredible contribution of Black British artists. From Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to Stormzy, we’ve seen Black musicians inspire and influence our lives, and I’m delighted that V&A East Museum’s inaugural exhibition will honour this.”
The Music is Black: A British Story runs until January 3, 2027 at the V&A East Museum, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Tickets for students and those under 26 cost from £10. Full price tickets cost from £20.
