Key information
Request reference number: MGLA210224-7061
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
- Please provide all correspondence related to the decision to place a statue of John Chilembwe in Trafalgar Square.
- Please also provide all correspondence identifying John Chilembwe as responsible for carrying out or directing violent activities, including but not limited to sending his followers to attack missionaries and other civilians, behead Scotsman William Jervis Livingstone and Chilembwe personally giving a sermon next to Livingstone's impaled severed head.
- Please also provide all correspondence related to assessing the legal or reputational risk of exhibiting a statue of John Chilembwe, or any other correspondence referencing glorification of the terrorism carried out by Chilembwe and his followers as defined by the Terrorism Act 2006
Our response
The decision to place the sculpture ‘Antelope’, by Samson Kambalu, which depicts the figures of John Chilembwe and John Chorley on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square was taken as part of an in-person meeting of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group. The Group’s decision is informed by a public vote on the shortlisted proposals. The decision was not taken via correspondence, electronic or otherwise. Further information relating to the decision is contained within an email attachment relating to the unveiling of the 4th Plinth. This content is also broadly available on the below links:
What's on the Fourth Plinth now | London City Hall (See audio description of Antelope)
Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group | London City Hall
On the 12th July 2021 a Supplementary, Oral Mayor’s Question was asked by Assembly Member Shaun Bailey related to the decision to select the proposal ‘Antelope’ by Samson Kambalu, which depicts the figures John Chilembwe and John Chorley for the Fourth Plinth. The response to this question was drafted over email correspondence and the oral update was transcribed and published here: Oral Update to the Mayor’s Report (london.gov.uk)
Additionally in the build-up to the unveiling of the Fourth Plinth commission ‘Antelope’ by Samson Kambalu, which depicts the figures John Chilembwe and John Chorley, a Q&A was developed in September 2022. A Q&A is standard practice in regard to announcements of any kind. Responses related to the history of John Chilembwe acts of resistance in Malawi were included in email correspondence and relate to the background which is published at: What's on the Fourth Plinth now | London City Hall
The GLA does not hold information within the third part of your request.