Description
In May 1904, the Great Exhibition in Lister Park showcased Bradford businesses, art and culture, and featured a standout exhibit: the Somali Village. Within this village, 60 Somali individuals, including men, women, and children, resided in a walled compound for six months. Their presence drew an impressive 348,550 visitors, making it the most lucrative attraction at the exhibition.
In this fascinating event, Fozia Bora tells the stories of some of these Villagers – often polyglot cosmopolitans, and Bradford’s earliest-known Muslim community – who speak from the past through the recovery of written, oral and photographic archives.
Reflection Session
After the talk, join us for an optional reminiscence session, which offers a unique opportunity to share and celebrate your personal memories related to Bradford’s storied past. Whether it’s tales from your own experiences or stories passed down through generations, your contributions enrich our collective history.
So, we invite you to come share your stories and be part of Bradford’s living history.
About the Academic
Dr Fozia Bora
Dr. Fozia Bora, an Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Leeds, also chairs the British Association of Islamic Studies and serves as a Trustee of the Gibb Memorial Trust. Recognized for her public engagement with historical texts, she received the University of Leeds’ Women of Achievement Award in 2021. Her book, Writing History in the Medieval Islamic World, delves into the significance of chronicles as archives. Presently, her research focuses on Bradford’s Muslim communities, examining their narratives of migration, acculturation, and settlement, both locally and globally. Bora’s work bridges academia with public discourse, enriching our understanding of Islamic history.
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