Brighton and Hove city's historical links to the British empire, colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade symposium

The Reparations and Restitution Community Symposium aims to provide an accessible public platform during UK’s annual Black History Month to examine how Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade continues to shape contemporary racial, social and economic inequalities. The symposium will bring together internationally recognised scholars, campaigners and local community leaders, connecting global debates on Reparatory justice with Brighton and Hove's own historical relationship with transatlantic slavery and empire.

More than a commemorative event, the symposium is designed as a catalyst for policy dialogue, civic engagement and institutional change, encouraging Brighton & Hove City Council and other public bodies to consider meaningful Reparative approaches to addressing the city's historical legacy.

Brighton and Hove possesses significant historical links to Britain's imperial and slave-trading past through its maritime economy, commercial networks, investment histories and civic institutions. Yet these histories remain relatively absent from public consciousness and local policymaking.

By placing Brighton and Hove's own history at the centre of the conversation, the project seeks to help the city become a national leader in developing thoughtful, inclusive and evidence-based approaches to historical justice.

The symposium is organised by Brighton and Hove Black History, in partnership with the Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics (CAPPE) at the University of Brighton and supported by Trades Union Congress (TUC), African Night Fever and Writing Our Legacy.

About the speakersDr Bert Williams MBE

Dr Bert Williams MBE is co-founder of Brighton & Hove Black History. Born in Jamaica, Bert has lived in Brighton since 1967. He served in the RAF, then worked for the NHS. After retiring, he chaired Black & mixed parentage family charity Mosaic. Bert has also organised Chattri Memorial service to honour WW1 Indian Soldiers.

In 2011, Bert was awarded a MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. In 2017, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Sussex.

For over 40 years, he has dedicated himself to recording the stories of Black communities in Brighton & Hove and across Sussex. You can find out more about his project Echoes of Brighton’s Past.

Onyekachi Wambu

Onyekachi Wambu is an Associate for Special Projects at the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), where he encourages the contribution of the African diaspora to African and international development and contributes to initiatives advancing justice and reparatory action. He has been actively engaged in the UK debate on African reparations, connecting grassroots campaigning with policy and political advocacy.

His work contributes to efforts to place reparations, restitution, and historical justice more firmly within public and parliamentary discourse in Britain, including through engagement with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations. Wambu brings a strong commitment to addressing the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, and racial inequality, and to building meaningful pathways towards recognition, repair, and justice.

Wambu is also the editor of the anthology Empire Windrush: Reflections on 75 Years & More of the Black British Experience, published in June 2023.

Professor Ahmed Reid

Professor Ahmed Reid is a historian, author, and leading scholar of reparatory justice, with a particular focus on the history and contemporary legacies of slavery, colonialism, and racial injustice in the Caribbean and the wider African diaspora. He is a Professor at the Centre for Reparation Research at The University of the West Indies, where his work contributes to advancing scholarship and public debate on reparations and historical justice.

Professor Reid has also served as Chair of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, contributing to international discussions on racial justice, human rights, and reparatory action. His research and public engagement connect historical scholarship with contemporary struggles for justice, accountability, and the advancement of the rights and wellbeing of people of African descent globally.

In 2024, Professor Reid was appointed as a Programme Manager to investigate the Guardian's historical links to transatlantic enslavement, including the newspaper's historical activities and connections in Jamaica and the Sea Islands of the United States. This work forms part of broader efforts to examine institutional histories of involvement in slavery and to consider questions of historical accountability and repair.

Charmaine Simpson

Currently works with the Church Commissioners of the Church of England on Project Spire as a Research Engagement Coordinator, supporting and overseeing research exploring the Church of England’s hi

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