About this Display

All objects have a story to tell. Some stories are well known and are easy to hear, but others are forgotten about, ignored or are difficult to share. Behind the labels for the objects in museums are untold stories, which we are seeking to reveal.

Our first Hidden Histories project is inspired by the fact that during the medieval period, around 60% of the gold in Europe originated from West Africa. The Colchester Museums collection includes various gold objects from that time, so it is likely a number of those have African roots. Supported by our incredible partners, we have been exploring that little-known stat and learning more about West African culture.

Discover more, including bonus online content, by visiting our West African Gold page.

We would like to thank our project partners for shaping this display, writing text and loaning objects. The group includes representatives from Isedale Wa CIC (Our Heritage), AFiUK (African Families in the UK) CIC and Black History Month Colchester.