In this episode of OffScript, Josephine Burton is joined by historian, journalist, and writer Paula Akpan. A specialist in Black British history and queer identity, Paula brings a vital perspective to our exploration of Albion.
Drawing on her acclaimed book, When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors, Paula discusses the power of restoring overlooked narratives to the centre of our global and national stories. Together, they examine how history shapes the idea of who gets to be seen as "English" and the intersections of race, memory, and belonging.
From pre-colonial African leadership to contemporary British activism, this conversation explores whether Englishness can ever be fully inclusive and how learning untold histories can reshape our understanding of identity today.
Our Public House is currently touring England. Find out more at https://www.dasharts.org.uk/our-public-house
This episode is part of Dash Arts' Albion series - an ongoing exploration of what it means to be English today.
Our intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi
Josephine is joined by Dr. Florian Scheding, Associate Professor of Music and Migration at the University of Bristol. Together, they explore how music acts not merely as a passive reflection of human movement, but as an active force capable of crossing physical boundaries and temporal divides.