A HIDDEN HISTORY:
African Women and the
British Health Service
1930–2000
Following celebrations of the NHS' 70th anniversary in 2018, YHP turned its attention to the memorialisation of Black women's contributions in Britain. We discovered a tendency to centre the Windrush generation and wanted to widen this narrative. Hence, this project aims to shed light on the experiences, contributions, and achievements of African women in the British healthcare sector from 1930 to 2000. YHP produced an 8 episode documentary series based around oral history, archival footage, and independent research. We interviewed 36 women from a range of cultural backgrounds and careers including medicine, nursing, midwifery, and psychiatry, to celebrate their journeys and impact on British healthcare. Alongside digital learning resources, YHP also produced an eBook and commemorative hospital murals.
This project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and was undertaken in partnership with the Ghana Nurses Association, the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association, and the Black Cultural Archives. Read our full list of credits and special thanks here.
7.
documentary
series
Watch our series exploring themes like childhood, migration, careers, & racism
6.
Explore our map on the travels of historic African women healthcare workers across Britain
10.
HOSPITAL
mURALS
Learn about our commemorative hospital mural series across the UK
Dedicated to all African women healthcare workers
In memory of all who lost their lives due to the COVID–19 pandemic
CREDITS
With special thanks to all of our interviewees for sharing their stories with us:
Zainab Abbas
Hala Abusin
Dr Mary Adi
Esther Adi
Adwoa Agyei-Benhene
Jacqueline Alby
Zahra Ali
Gloria Amani
Sarah Amani
Joyce Anderson
Cecilia Anim
Helen Anin-Boateng
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu
Esther Bentil
Joanna Brown
Priscilla Dike
Dr Rahma Elmahdi
Dr Teresa Emelle
Shuvai Foley
Dr Bernadine Idowu
Fayida Johnson
Midah Mamiale
Monica
Mukai Moyo
Lucia Msika
Sylvia Owusu Nepaul
Glynis Neslen
Dr Remi Odejinmi
Ngozika Ogundu
Funmi Oke
Favour Olagunju
Dr Lola Oni
Mariama Seray-Wurie
Iyamide Thomas
Dr Olu Wilkey
YHP Team, 2018–2022:
Florence Adeoye
Alice Agyeman
Arista Ajidele
India-Mae Alby
Aatika Ayoub
Aimee Baruwa
Perry Blankson
Jasmine Breinburg
Frankie Chappell
Gianna Daley
Rianna Davis
Alex Douglas-Bailey
Kamara Dyer Simms
Daniella Ekundayo
Freya Flavin
Hannah Foleng
Hannah Francis
Jenna Green
Mia Henderson
Isra Hussein
Stephanie Keen
Kaitlene Koranteng
Joella Lawes
Sue Lemos
Freya Lewis
Deanna Lyncook
Montaz Marché
Olivia Mason
Chloe May
Sarah Moreno
Cameron Myers
Toyin Odusan
Joshua Olakanpo
Ayomide Oluyemi
Jacob Otikenteng
Tionne Parris
Ijeoma Peter
Carol Pierre
Lamesha Ruddock
Shamica Ruddock
Fatimah Saccoh
Akosua Sarpong
Ribeka Seyoum
Josephine Small
Lois South
Aleja Taddesse
Christina Vassell
Shekinah Vera-Cruz
Olivia Wyatt
With thanks to:
Project Coordinator: A.S. Francis
Consultant Historian: Professor Hakim Adi
Black Cultural Archives
Everyday Muslim
Fairfield House
George Padmore Institute
London Metropolitan Archives
Rainbow Collective
Royal College of Nursing
Royal United Hospital Bath
Iconic Black Britons
Ghana Nurses Association
Nigerian Charitable Nurses Association
Beverley Brathwaite
Keith Bowers
Robert Burroughs
Michele Curtis
Kelly Foster
Jeffrey Green
Maureen Roberts
Kevin Searle
This project was made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Thanks to all National Lottery Players!