African Kings in Brighton

Three African Kings Visit Brighton in 1895: online Black History resource for schools

We are working on a new educational project to develop online resources for Brighton & Hove primary and secondary schools focusing on the story of the Three Kings of Botswana and their visit to Brighton and Sussex in 1895 as part of their visit to the UK.

The project will create online downloadable school resources for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 and a short film aimed at secondary school children.

A largely untold story from Brighton’s diverse past, the Three Kings of Bechuanaland (now called Botswana) came to the UK to urge the British Government to prevent the British South Africa Company from gaining ownership of their country.

Cecil Rhodes, prime minister of the Cape Colony and one of the richest men in the world at the time, owned this company and was well known for his brutal treatment of Black people in the area. He also wanted to build a railway across Africa from the Cape to Cairo, through Bechuanaland, taking all the land 20 miles either side of the railway line to give to white farmers.

The kings took control of the situation and commissioned a local man, Charles Willoughby, to organise a tour of Britain for them.

Three African Kings visit Brighton in 1895

The aim of the project is to combat racism in schools by providing much needed, high quality resources for teaching Black History and histories of the Empire with a thrilling local angle for schools in Brighton and Hove and Sussex.

Our project team includes:

  • Lead historian Suchi Chatterjee
  • Historian Bert Williams MBE
  • Education specialist Gabrielle Rowles
  • Project manager Amy Zamarripa Solis
  • Filmmaker Bip Mistry
  • Film assistant Ibby Maryoud
Thank you to the educators and students who reviewed our resources:
  • Anoushka Visvalingham
  • Dulani Kulasinghe
  • Neil Panton
  • Archie Rowles
  • Ibby Maryoud

And a special thank you to Elm Grove Primary School and Head Teacher Louise Willard for inviting us to try out the lessons at the school and for being involved with our ITV Meridien interview. 

This project is delivered by Brighton & Hove Black History (with Writing Our Legacy), commissioned by University of Sussex and funded by UK Research and Innovation.

It builds on a previous project AHRC-funded research project ‘Making African Connections from Sussex and Kent Museums’ with Sussex University and Brighton Museum.

For more information, please contact Project Manager Amy Zamarripa Solis on amy@writingourlegacy.org.uk.

Further information: Making Botswana: Woodcarving


Education Resources

The lessons are designed to be interactive and engaging and have been received very enthusiastically by our pilot schools:
  • “Very accessible” — Year 5 teacher, St Lukes Primary School
  • “The children seemed to enjoy the session and it made them reflective. After the session children were eager to find out more about colonialism and its impact.” — Year 5 teacher Elm Grove Primary School
  • “It’s a genuinely interesting lesson. We’d like to integrate it into our scheme of work” — History teacher, Dorothy Stringer School
We are planning to deliver teacher training of the resources for selected Brighton schools later this year.

Key Stage 1

Download Teacher’s Pack (zipped file)

Key Stage 2

Download Teacher’s Pack (zipped file)

Key Stage 3

Download Teacher’s Pack (zipped file)

Film

We are pleased to present a short film aimed at secondary school children, produced by our team with filmmaker Bip Mistry.

Local Brighton young people Archie Rowles and Ibby Maryoud produced a film response to the project, which you can watch here.

Launch event

We were pleased to launch the Three Kings resources and films on Sunday 21 November 2021 at our annual Black History Family Day event at Brighton Dome.

Brighton & Hove Black History Family Day 2021. Photo Brighton Dome, Erin James

Brighton & Hove Black History Family Day 2021. Photo Brighton Dome, Erin James

Brighton & Hove Black History Family Day 2021. Photo Brighton Dome, Erin James

Brighton & Hove Black History Family Day 2021. Photo Brighton Dome, Erin James