Who is John Blanke?: Artists and Historians Reimagine the Black Tudor Trumpeter

The pioneering art-history project on the first recorded Black man in British history 'Brilliantly illuminates the overlooked chapters of Black Tudor England' – Professor Corinne Fowler, The University of Leicester 'Encourages a deeper empathetic engagement with our shared past' – Professor David Olusoga, University of Manchester On a sixty‑foot vellum scroll known as the Great Tournament Roll of Westminster, a single Black trumpeter rides among Henry VIII’s musicians, his instrument draped with royal arms. That figure – the black Tudor trumpeter John Blanke – is the first known person of African descent in Britain for whom we have both an identifiable image and written records. Who Is John Blanke? Historians and Artists Reimagine the Black Tudor Trumpeter is a richly produced work of art and history, edited by art and cultural historian Michael I. Ohajuru, founder of the acclaimed John Blanke Project. Bringing together historians, visual artists, poets, photographers, rappers and playwrights, it transforms a handful of archival references into a vivid, many‑voiced portrait of Black presence in Tudor England and Renaissance Europe.  From court payment books that record Blanke’s wages and successful petition for a pay rise, to royal gifts of a violet wedding gown and bonnet, the book carefully reconstructs what we can know of John Blanke's life as one of the African musicians in Henry VIII’s court. These documents sit alongside a full discussion of the Great Tournament Roll of Westminster, where John Blanke appears twice among a troop of six trumpeters leading royal processions. Together, they anchor the book’s exploration of Africans in early modern Britain and the wider Black presence in Renaissance Europe.  Around this historical core, 114 contributors respond to the prompt “I imagined John Blanke as…”. Their answers range from lyrical essays and sharp historical insights to striking black‑and‑white drawings, photographs, rap verses and poems. We see John Blanke as virtuoso jazz ancestor, as working court professional, as migrant, husband, wage‑earner and “agent of change”; as symbol, inspiration and fellow member of the African diaspora. This unique conversation between archive and imagination makes the volume stand out among Black history books about England.  A specially written introduction traces the origins of the John Blanke Project Michael Ohajuru in gallery talks, exhibitions and the live “John Blanke Live!” symposia, while a foreword by Dr Bonnie Greer celebrates the emotional impact of seeing Blanke’s face on the original Roll for the first time. High‑quality reproductions and elegant design frame the artworks and texts, making this a beautiful example of Black Tudors nonfiction illustrated – as at home on a coffee table as in a classroom.  This book is ideal for readers of Miranda Kaufmann’s Black Tudors or David Olusoga’s Black and British, for anyone curious about Black British history Tudor England, and for all who want to see Britain’s past in full colour rather than in selective monochrome. It offers rich material for teachers seeking multicultural British history education resources, museum and heritage professionals rethinking their displays, and students exploring African Europeans Renaissance history for the first time. Above all, Who Is John Blanke? invites you to imagine – and to rethink what you thought you knew. If you have been told there were no Black people at the Tudor court, this book’s fanfare of images and voices will prove otherwise. Let the art and history of John Blanke change the way you see Tudor England – and claim your place in a longer, deeper story of Britain’s past. Reviews 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. David Olusoga, Professor of Public History, The University of Manchester The John Blanke Project brilliantly illuminates the overlooked chapters of Black Tudor England, blending rigorous scholarship with creative vision. Its profound commitment to uncovering the full spectrum of our heritage challenges us to embrace a more diverse and inclusive narrative of British history. A landmark in historical exploration, this project transforms our understanding and appreciation of the past. Corinne Fowler, Professor of Colonialism and Heritage, The University of Leicester The John Blanke Project offers a transformative lens on British history, spotlighting the pivotal yet frequently overlooked roles of Black Britons in our shared heritage. This project stands shoulder to shoulder with my work on Ignatius Sancho, each amplifying the other, as we strive to paint a more inclusive and comprehensive portrait of our past. Paterson Joseph, British Actor and Author, Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University Buy this beautiful book and start reading

Table of Contents:
Foreword, 8 Introduction, 9 The John Blanke Project, 10 The Great Tournament Roll of Westminster, 18 Artists and Historians, 21 Artificial Intelligence and the John Blanke Project, 258 Sources, 259 Recommended Reading, 261 John Blanke Live!, 262 The John Blanke Project Timeline, 264 Crowdfunder Thanks, 265 Acknowledgements, 266 Corporate and Institution Thanks, 267 The John Blanke Project in Videos and Podcasts, 268 Contributors 269 List of Contributors Page Contributor Role 22 Dr Miranda Kaufmann Historian 24 Stephen B Whatley Artist 26 Larry Achiampong Artist 28 Prof Hakim Adi Historian 30 Sandra A. Agard Storyteller 32 John Agard Artist 34 Dr Toyin Agbetu Educator 36 Hassan Aliyu Artist 38 Sydney Anglo Historian 42 Year 9 student at Kings Priory School, North Shields Artist 44 Toby Laurent Belson Artist 46 David Bindman Historian 48 Hazel Blue Artist 50 Phoebe Boswell Artist 52 Stephen Bourne Historian 54 Nathan Bowen Artist 56 Jeff Bowersox Historian 58 Joanna Brown Artist 60 Victoria Burgher Artist 62 Chila Kumari Burman Artist 64 Jody Burton Artist 66 Rohan Clarke Artist 68 Matthew Collings Artist 70 Ebun Culwin Artist 72 Sean Cunningham Historian 74 Adelaide Damoah Artist 76 Jon Daniel Artist 78 Nandini Das Historian 80 Paul Dash Artist 82 Phil Day Rapper 84 Phil Day Historian 86 Kimathi Donkor Artist 88 J Draper Historian 90 Mengistu Etim Artist 92 Graeme Mortimer Evelyn Artist 94 Tinuke Fagborun Artist 96 Dan Farrimond Artist 98 Jenny Fay Artist 100 Catherine Fletcher Historian 102 Sharon Foster Artist 104 Fowokan Artist 106 Brian Francis Artist 108 Kendall Francis Historian 110 Kadija George Poet 112 Holly Graham Artist 114 Jeffrey Green Historian 116 Joy Gregory Artist 118 Annis Harrison Artist 120 Valda Jackson Artist 122 Lauren Johnson Historian 124 Tam Joseph Artist 126 Linett Kamala Artist 128 Paul Kaplan Historian 130 Kofi Artist 132 Atta Kwami Artist 134 Wole Lagunju Artist 136 Renée Landell Researcher 138 Vicky Lane Curator 140 Dee Lawrence Artist 142 Jason Lee Artist 144 Serena Lee Historian 146 Dave Lewis Photographer 148 Joe Lillington Artist 150 Prof Kate Lowe Historian 152 Dan Lyndon Historian 154 Seema Manchanda Artist 156 Janet Manning Artist 158 Dr Emma Luisa Cahill Marrón Historian 160 Jan Marsh Historian 162 Maya Martin Artist 164 S.I. Martin Historian 166 Randolph Matthews Artist 168 Seema McArdle Writer 170 Pete McCaldon Artist 172 Alex McKenzie Artist 174 Pen Mendonça Artist 176 Roy Merchant Poet 178 Ninya Mikhaila Historical Costumier 182 Andrea Montgomery Playwright 184 Sheba Montserrat Poet 186 Kate Morrison Writer 188 Angeline Morrison Artist 190 Avril Nanton Tour Guide 192 Lawrence Narhkom Artist 194 Jess Nash Artist 196 Elaine Nason Artist 198 David Neita Artist 200 Ormond Noonan Artist 202 Dr Temi Odumosu Historian 204 Valentine Ogunba Rapper 206 Adèle Oliver Writer 208 Onyeka Historian 210 Prof Olivette Otele Historian 212 Eugene Palmer Artist 214 Brandon Pilcher Artist 216 Keith Piper Artist 218 Jane Porter Artist 220 Dr Mary Rambaran‑Olm Artist 222 Jeremy Salmon Artist 224 Marika Sherwood Historian 226 Bob & Roberta Smith Artist 228 Melissa Jo Smith Artist 230 Martin Spafford Historian 232 Chris Spring Artist 234 Chris Spring Historian 236 Siobhan Stanley Artist 238 SuAndi Poet 240 Mark Thompson Poet 242 Tonderai Artist 244 Hannah Uzor Artist 246 Steven Veerapen Writer 248 Angela Vives Artist 250 Robin Walker Historian 252 Barry Walmsley Artist 254 Tony Warner Tour Guide 256 Kes Young Artist  

About the Author :
Michael I Ohajuru holds an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University (2024), is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (2022), Senior Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (2014), with honours degrees in Physics (Leeds, 1974) and Art History (Open University, 2008). He retired in 2014 after a 25-year career holding senior positions in international sales and marketing in the data and mobile communications industry. He lives in South London with his partner, the artist Ebun Culwin. He blogs, writes and speaks regularly on the black presence in Renaissance Europe, he has spoken at the Metropolitan Museum, New York, the National Gallery, London, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, British Library, National Archives and the Victoria Albert Museum on the subject. In 2010, he founded Image of the Black in London Galleries – a series of gallery tours highlighting the overt and covert black presences to be found in the national art collections in London. He is Project Director and Chief Evangelist of the John Blanke Project, a contemporary Art and Archive project celebrating John Blanke, the Black trumpeter to the courts of Henry VII and Henry VII now in the permanent collections of the National Studies What’s Happening in Black British History, a series of workshops fostering creative dialogue between researchers, educationalists (mainstream and supplementary), archivists and curators, and policymakers; a series of 10 workshops were held over five years. He is a founder member of the Black Presence in British BP2 Podcast. Michael I. Ohajuru DUniv, FRSA, Art & Cultural Historian https://about.me/michaelohajuru/  

Review :
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. – David Olusoga, Professor of Public History, The University of Manchester The John Blanke Project brilliantly illuminates the overlooked chapters of Black Tudor England, blending rigorous scholarship with creative vision. Its profound commitment to uncovering the full spectrum of our heritage challenges us to embrace a more diverse and inclusive narrative of British history. A landmark in historical exploration, this project transforms our understanding and appreciation of the past. – Corinne Fowler, Professor of Colonialism and Heritage, The University of Leicester The John Blanke Project, much like my exploration into Ignatius Sancho’s life, offers a transformative lens on British history, spotlighting the pivotal yet frequently overlooked roles of Black Britons in our shared heritage. Both endeavours challenge us to broaden our historical narratives, weaving the contributions of these remarkable individuals into the fabric of our national identity. This project stands shoulder to shoulder with my work on Sancho, each amplifying the other, as we strive to paint a more inclusive and comprehensive portrait of our past. – Paterson Joseph, British Actor and Author, Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University