Projects
‘Indo + Caribbean: The Creation of a Culture’ Exhibit
May 19th - November 19th 2023
London Museum Docklands
The Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture exhibit at the London Museum Docklands sheds light on the little-known history of Indian indenture in the British Caribbean and showcases personal stories from London's Indo-Caribbean community.
After the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, British planters in the Caribbean sought a new source of cheap labour for their plantations. With support from the British government, laborers were recruited from India and indentured to work for three to five years in exchange for transportation, minimal wages, and basic provisions. The first indenture ships, the Hesperus and Whitby, set sail in 1838, enduring a long and difficult journey of up to five months under poor conditions.
The Indo + Caribbean exhibit provides an opportunity to delve into Britain's colonial history and learn about the diverse communities from the Caribbean that have enriched the city. While acknowledging the exploitative and often cruel nature of the indenture system, the exhibit recognises that it also gave rise to a unique culture where individuals found agency to forge a new life. I hope that this exhibit will serve as a starting point for people to discover this important part of Caribbean history.
Online Exhibition: HSBC - The Local Touch
This co-curated online exhibition focuses on the impact of staff from the Global Ethnic Majority, namely, the historical role of the compradore in HSBC and other Western firms operating in Southeast Asia. The compradore acted as a bridge between local employees and overseas staff. They were influential individuals who skillfully navigated the cultural differences between East and West, supporting global transactions and local economies. The exhibition highlights the significance of the compradore system in facilitating international trade and the close-knit relationships formed within the network.
Curating History: Exploring Caribbean Culture and History through AI.
This Caribbean History project aims to address the underrepresentation of Caribbean history and culture in traditional museum and archive spaces. By leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and utilising AI-generated art, this online exhibition seeks to fill gaps in historical collections and amplify the voices that have been historically absent from Caribbean history records. This innovative approach explores how AI can redefine creativity and curatorial possibilities in the heritage sector, while enhancing narrative storytelling and reshaping learning methods.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine : Archive Decolonisation
2022
LSHTM Archive
This project focuses on decolonisation initiatives within the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Archive. The aim is to interpret and re-examine the collections held by LSHTM, with a particular emphasis on decolonising cataloguing practices and addressing the institution's colonial legacy. The project is a response to the LSHTM and colonialism: history and legacy project, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement, both of which have prompted a critical examination of the archives' collections, narratives, and their role in engaging with colonialism.
Decolonisng the Curriculum: Foreign Policy
2021
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster's curriculum reshaping project in collaboration with the University Co-creators initiative aims to decolonise the foreign policy and diplomacy modules by critically reviewing the curriculum, engaging stakeholders, developing new resources, adopting innovative teaching methodologies, and providing faculty development. Through these efforts, the project seeks to create a more inclusive and diverse learning environment that empowers students and educators to critically engage with global issues from multiple perspectives.
Publications
Diaspora Dishes
2024
https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/diaspora-dishes
Journey through a day of Caribbean culinary dishes, exploring the complex and entangled histories of food and colonisation in the West Indies. For generations, culinary traditions in the Caribbean have infused cooking practices and ingredients from West Africa, India, and the region’s Indigenous communities.
Women in Indian indentured labour.
2023
https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/blog/women-in-indian-indentured-labour/
Understanding the experiences of Indian women during indentureship enables us to recognise their contributions, resilience, and the significant sacrifices made by generations of women. It also allows for a critical examination of the larger historical context of British colonialism and its far-reaching consequences on diverse populations around the world.
Chicken Curries & Johnny Cakes: the diversity of Caribbean food.
2023
https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/blog/chicken-curries-johnny-cakes-the-diversity-of-caribbean-food/
The Caribbean has a rich and diverse heritage, interconnected colonial history, and comprises distinct cultures and practices. As recipes travelled from Africa, India, China and other parts of the world, to the Caribbean and then on to London, they changed, adapted and evolved. We explore this journey through the flavours of three classic dishes and a conversation between two Londoners of Caribbean heritage.
How AI can help archives with engagement activities.
2023
ARC Magazine - Sep/Oct ‘23 Issue
In this article I explore a variety of ways archives, museums, and galleries can utilise Artificial Intelligence to enhance historical research, and illuminate oral histories, exhibitions, and decolonial practice.
Decolonising the Archive: A Caribbean Approach
2022
www.archives.org.uk/news/decolonising-the-archive-a-caribbean-approach
In this blog I share my personal journey of developing an archival practice founded in the sayings and teachings from my Caribbean cultural background. This perspective allows for a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances within historical research and archive practices. I explore how I seek to challenge traditional approaches to archiving and uncover narratives that may have been overlooked or marginalised in collection documentation.
Talks and Speaking
Cred x Gen: Inclusive Description Series
2024
British Library
Focusing on inclusive metadata description, this talk explored the gaps in current archival description related to the Caribbean and methods for adding more Caribbean voices and diverse stories in our catalogues. Uncovering these silences helps us to make sure that inclusive description includes varied perspectives, giving a fuller picture of Caribbean history and cultures.
Diversity and inclusion in Conversation
2023
HSBC Global Archives
In this conversation, I speak about my involvement in diversity and inclusion archival projects and reflect on the lessons I have learned in archival and museum curatorial practice. I discuss my efforts to actively collect, preserve, and provide access to materials that represent a wide range of voices and experiences.