Out of Africa project archive image
Your Heritage
Date awarded
Location
West Bromwich Central
Applicant
Centre Spot CIC
Award Given
£49800
From Ghana-born Arthur Wharton in the 1880s to Togolese Spurs star Emmanuel Adebayor, African footballers have been bringing their incredible skills to the UK's professional football leagues for nearly 130 years.
The Out of Africa project celebrated their contribution in an oral and online history project.
Young volunteers from the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in Sandwell, Walsall and Birmingham carried out archival and film research and collected oral histories of professional players, managers, coaches and fans.
The project focused particularly on how football helped raise the aspirations of young people and tackled racism in sport and the wider community. The project produced an interactive website with a timeline, a documentary, touring exhibition and educational resources so wider audiences could learn from their research.