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
Professor Fozia Bora teaches and researches pre-modern Muslim and Islamic history at the University of Leeds and in 2021, received the University of Leeds’ Women of Achievement Award. Bora is the author of Writing History in the Medieval Islamic World and has contributed to research on Bradford’s 1904 Somali Village. Bora’s current work explores the migration, settlement and acculturation narratives of Bradford’s Muslim communities.
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