How David Olusoga transformed from a target of racism into a leading public historian

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in Nigeria and raised in Gateshead, David Olusoga faced severe racial hostility as a child. Today, he is one of the United Kingdom's most influential historians, using television and literature to bring forgotten narratives of empire, slavery, and identity into the heart of the national conversation.

David Olusoga’s path to becoming a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester began in the 1970s. After migrating to the UK at age five, he grew up in Gateshead, where his family was forced to relocate due to repeated attacks by the National Front. This early experience with racism shaped his later academic focus, leading him to study the history of slavery at the University of Liverpool, where he graduated in 1994.

Olusoga’s career bridges the gap between rigorous academic research and mass-market broadcasting. Starting as a researcher for the BBC in 1999, he transitioned into producing and presenting documentaries that challenge conventional historical narratives. His work, such as the BAFTA-winning Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners and the series Black and British: A Forgotten History, seeks to integrate marginalized stories into the mainstream. His 2024 book, Black History for Every Day of the Year, co-created with his siblings, further emphasizes this goal by embedding Black history into the daily calendar.

Beyond his screen presence, Olusoga has received significant recognition, including an OBE in 2019 for services to history and community integration and the British Academy’s President's Medal in 2021. He is frequently cited as one of the most influential Black Britons, ranking sixth in the 2023 Powerlist. Whether through his professorial lectures on Windrush or his collaborations with figures like Barack Obama, Olusoga remains a central figure in the ongoing re-evaluation of British imperial history and its modern-day legacy.

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