John Blanke Symposium

Two thirds of the Historycal Roots team attended:

John Blanke is one of the few Black Tudors we can put a name to and this event, held at the British Library in London, was a celebration of his life. A project, the John Blanke Symposium, led by Michael Ohajuru, had invited people to re-imagine his life from a range of different perspectives.

Although facts are scarce, an image of him survives:

The author and historian, Miranda Kaufman, was there to set out the historical context. Little is known of Blanke’s life, but, from papers held at the National Archives, we know that he was paid 8d per day by Henry VII, and a surviving document records a payment of 20 shillings to “John Blanke the blacke trumpet” as wages for the month of November 1507, with payments of the same amount continuing monthly through the next year. He also successfully petitioned Henry VIII for a wage increase.

There is also a record of him having married and so, as the poet John Agard pointed out later in the evening, there is probably John Blanke DNA still out there in the populace today! In addition to two poems from John, there were contributions from artists (Holly Graham, Adelaide Damoah, Charmaine Watkiss and Ebun Culwin) a sculptor (Fawokan),  another poet (David Nieta) and a rapper (Valentine Ogbunba). We arrived a little late so apologies to anyone we missed.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and an intriguing approach to bringing a little known Black Tudor to life.

The event is being repeated (perhaps with a different group of presenters) on Friday 1st December at the College of Arms (130, Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BT) from 18.30 to 20.30, well worth a visit if you are in the area.