CultureTree’s Yoruba Heritage Walking Trails & Mural
We have launched the first-ever interactive walking trail that tells the untold story of the Yoruba community and its contributions to the Southwark borough.
The themed interactive Yoruba Heritage walking trails aim to help people explore the rich history and heritage of the Yorubas in Southwark borough. The trail covers streets and buildings, change-makers, true stories, meet the locals, answers burning questions about Yoruba culture, and explores delicious Yoruba cuisine in Peckham, fondly known as Little Lagos.
To celebrate the launch of this initiative, we unveiled a giant mural on Saturday, March 30th, 2024, in Peckham Square. The mural was developed through engagement and consultation with school children, residents, and local community groups across the borough of Southwark. The mural has a QR code, taking visitors to a video explaining the themes explored in the mural, and an online oral history archive, where they can hear interviews from Yoruba people living in Southwark.
The mural was created using Graphenstone’s Eco-paints, the most certified harm-free mineral eco-paints in the world. Renowned Muralist Polly Alakija was commissioned in an advisory role on the creation of the mural with a group of talented Nigerian-British Artists.
The Mayor of London’s Untold Stories fund (part of his Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm) provided funding for the project and Southwark Council’s Cultural Celebrations Fund supported the delivery of the Yoruba Heritage Walking Trails free to residents, tourists, and visitors to Southwark throughout April 2024.
Gbemisola Isimi, CEO of CultureTree, expressed her excitement about the project. “This initiative has been a massive team effort from the very start, from the support of all our stakeholders to the tenacity of the team of artists who worked to bring the vision to life. I’m excited for everyone to see the mural and join the Yoruba Heritage Walking Trails across Southwark.”
Through this initiative, we aim to promote greater understanding and appreciation of African culture and heritage, especially among the younger generation. The interactive walking trail and the mural are a unique and creative way of showcasing the rich history and contributions of the Yoruba community in Southwark and beyond.
To find out more about the project visit: www.yorubaheritagetrails.com.
Slide to view images from the launch event on 30th March 2024.
