New National Portrait Gallery show explores black British life from 19th century

Co-curator Renée Mussai hopes the new show will counter the notion that multi-cultural Britain began with Caribbean immigration after the war

In focus: Albert Jonas and John Xiniwe of the African Choir by the London Stereoscopic Company, 1891

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Robert Dex @RobDexES6 May 2016

Long-lost photographs of black British life dating to the 19th century are going on show at the National Portrait Gallery.

Members of an African choir who performed in London for Queen Victoria in 1891, feature in the free show, which co-curator Renée Mussai hopes will counter the notion that multi-cultural Britain began with Caribbean immigration after the war. Ms Mussai, head of archive at arts charity Autograph ABP, which uncovered some of the negatives used in the exhibition at the Hulton Archive said: “We hope to show there is a long and varied history of black people in this country, often with fascinating and complex personal stories.”

Black Chronicles: Photographic Portraits 1862-1948, runs from May 18 to December 11.