IGNATIUS SANCHO PLAQUE
Location:  Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1

BACKGROUND:

"Am I not a man and a brother"

Born on a slave ship in 1729, Ignatius Sancho lived to become was a famous composer, actor, and writer. He is the first known African-Briton to vote in a British election. He gained fame in his time as "the extraordinary Negro," and to 18th century British abolitionists he became a symbol of the humanity of Africans and immorality of the slave trade.  The "Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho," an African, edited and published two years after his death, is one of the earliest accounts of African slavery in English that was written by a former slave.

Sancho also worked as the valet to the Duke of Montagu's wife and in 1768 his portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough. Sancho and his wife set up a grocery shop in Westminster in early 1774.  Next Tuesday, at a site in Whitehall established as the former home of the18th century civil rights colossus a ground-breaking unveiling will take place.  His home is now the Foreign Office and the event took place in the presence of Meg Munn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth), Saundra Glenn for Nubian Jak  and other invited guests.

This plaque organiser is Nubian Jak Community Trust in collaboration with Westminster Council.

MARY PRINCE PLAQUE 
Location:  University of London, Malet Street, London (to be reinstalled in 2008 due to building works)

BACKGROUND:

"Am I not a woman and a sister"

19th Century author and abolitionist, Mary Prince, lived in a house at 4 Keppel Street, Russell Square. The exact point where her house stood is now the site of the University of London’s Senate House.  Mary Prince was the first African woman to publish her memoirs during slavery and the book went some way towards highlighting the horrors of Transatlantic slave trade.

The unveiling was performed by Jak Beula (Chair of Nubian Jak), Dawn Somper (Mayor of Camden) and Diane Abbott MP. Mary Prince has become the second African Caribbean woman to be honoured with a major plaque (Mary Seacole being the first). The event included an exhibition on Mary Prince from a number of London Schools as well as a performance by the English Touring Opera from their new work “Bridgetower” which includes scenes depicting the life of Mary Prince.