Why London needs this memorial
Why this memorial
Memorials are powerful symbols and a way to remember.
Much of London’s wealth was built on the labour of enslaved Africans. Many public memorials in London commemorate enslavers or focus on abolitionists rather than the enslaved. This memorial is a chance to redress this balance.
The memorial was conceived with Londoners over many years and will serve Londoners for generations. It will help unite the shared history of the city and grow a collective awareness of this period and its legacy.
By honouring this history, we respect and empower all Londoners.
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Watch: the 2023 programme announcement
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Watch: A lesson in Black history by Toyah Demi Panton
This memorial contributes to a wider conversation already happening in the UK and worldwide about how to recognise and discuss this shared history.
It will acknowledge London’s role in transatlantic slavery. It also foregrounds a major permanent artwork by a Black artist, at a time when Britain’s Black art scene is being celebrated worldwide.
There is a growing appetite for this history. Through a London-wide collaborative process between artists, children and communities, this will be a chance to bring this history alive in an imaginative and compelling way.
This memorial will hopefully create long overdue time and space for Londoners to have deep, creative and healing conversations. It will help to increase knowledge and understanding across our culturally diverse city.
What we're building, together
Places to connect
This memorial deepens London’s story and shapes how we understand the city.
It gives Black and descendant communities a dedicated place to mourn, remember, celebrate and connect.
Deeper understanding
It offers everyone interested in history, culture and society a unique, necessary lens on Britain’s past and its influence on the present. It provides educators and school children with meaningful, creative ways to learn and teach about this history.
It's more than a memorial
Together, we'll build more than a memorial. We'll build a shared sense of belonging, stronger connections, and a fairer, more inclusive London.
The profits from the trade in enslaved people and from their exploitation on the plantations of the Americas helped build London’s wealth.
Today London is home to over a third of a million people who are descended from those enslaved people. This is a shared history and it’s right that all Londoners have a memorial through which to better remember the victims of slavery in the slave trade.
Shaping this memorial
Engagement with London communities has shaped the memorial commission and learning programme. Find out how we've involved Londoners in the memorial's development.
The memorial proposals followed three years of community engagement, consultation and considered thinking about London’s public realm and how to mark this important part of London’s history.
This included roundtables with experts and academics, communities and young people, and wider community-led conversations, each exploring some of the narrative questions around the memorial. In this period, over a 1000 people gave their views and feedback.
A longer list of artists was put together for this commission by arts professionals, sector specialists and community groups. The Artistic Advisory Panel were responsible for selecting the shortlisted proposals. We ran a public consultation on these six proposals.
After the public gave feedback on the proposals, the panel made recommendations to the Mayor of London.
In March 2024, we began conversations with Londoners to determine what the learning offer should look like, how it should be delivered and what it should include.
270 educators, creatives, and communities were involved with exploring how to meaningfully engage with the ongoing legacies of the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans.
The Learning programme continues to be shaped with Londoners and through learning that comes out of the History for Our Future Learning Network.
Timeline
Commission for Diversity in Public Realm set up
Mayor announces the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (CDPR).
Community conversations
Over 1000 people were involved in community conversations to develop the programme.
Mayor commits funding
The Mayor committed £500,000 seed funding. CDPR initiated the project.
Learning programme development
Work to define and develop a learning programme begins. Over 200 teachers, parents, primary and secondary school pupils and academics are involved.
Artist selection
The six-week public consultation received over 4,300 responses on the six shortlisted proposals.
The Wake by Khaleb Brooks was announced as the chosen proposal.
History of Our Future Learning Network launch
Commissioned by Mayor of London and led by House of Dread, the network brings together those learning, teaching and engaging others with histories of enslavement.
Learning resources and Sites of Memory development
Work from the first round of the learning programme will be delivered.
Sites of Memory sites and engagement programme will be developed.
The Wake unveiling
The Wake is set to be unveiled at its location in West India Quay in Spring 2027.
Sites of Memory unveiling
Sites of Memory markers will be unveiled and legacy activity delivered.
Get involved
Email us if you'd like to get involved with The Wake. Together, we’ll build a memorial that recognises, remembers and deepens understanding of this shared history.
Email [email protected]See more on London's memorial to victims of transatlantic slavery
An immersive sculpture offering communities in London a space to gather, listen, reflect and remember the victims of transatlantic slavery.
Discover the partner memorials that will connect the global history and stories of slavery across London and the world.
