Exhibition
Below are low resolution proofs of our 'Somali Seafarers' exhibition. This exhibition brings together the memories and mementos of ten Somali seafarers. The oral history interviews took place at Granby Hall, in Bethnal Green, the community centre where the Somali Senior Citizen Club met. Our team of volunteers conducted many of the interviews themselves, in Somali, having undergone oral history training at the start of the project.
1: Life in Somaliland - This board explores the colonial context that saw many Somalis come to the UK to work in various port cities. The memories of the elders reflect on life growing up in Somaliland and Aden (another British protectorate, in Yemen), as well as their journeys to this country.
2: Life in the Docklands - This board takes as its subject matter the living conditions in London's docklands, and features important seafaring landmarks such as the Shipping Federation Offices in Aldgate. The seafarers' experiences attest to the vibrancy of London's East End, through interactions with Jewish and Irish communities.
3: Life at Sea - Here, we find out what life was like working in the merchant navy, from the reason many Somalis chose to work at sea, to their various roles and positions on board ships. Many of the seafarers had amazing stories about the perils they faced on the oceans, some of which are included here.
4: The Last of the Seafarers - Finally, we turn to the decline of British merchant shipping that came with the closure and subsequent redevelopment of London's docks. This board documents the changes in conditions experienced by the seafarers, placing their memories into the broader picture of the British labour movement as a whole.
Booklet
This booklet was designed in collaboration with the project volunteers. We looked at previous booklets Eastide has produced and discussed what they liked about them, and what they thought could be improved. We included pictures from the workshops and their own words to introduce the booklet. Where possible we included different oral histories than the exhibition. These give a fuller picture of the colonial context under which the Seafarers grew up, and detail the family connections that brought them to the UK and back to Somalia.