Royal Museums Greenwich

Sharon records inside the New York storage facilities of writer and curator Catherine E. McKinley, where she cares for a remarkable collection of more than 1,600 historical photographs from across Africa, many taken between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. The deeply personal archive includes studio portraits, family photographs, vernacular images, and historical prints that trace everyday lives, migrations, and identities.Despite a few technical difficulties, the conversation highlights the collection as a space of preservation and remembrance. Sharon and Catherine reflect on how these images hold stories often absent from traditional archives, while McKinley also discusses her work exploring women’s history, identity, and self-representation through photography.

In this episode, Sharon Walters speaks with Black feminist artist-researcher and curator Nydia A. Swaby about historic photograph albums from the Royal Museums Greenwich Caird collections. Recorded at the Brass Foundry in Woolwich, part of Royal Museums Greenwich, which houses extensive photographs and archival material, they share a rich conversation as the first and second practice-based Caird Research Fellows.Sharon reflects on following in Nydia’s footsteps and the start of ongoing collaborations. Nydia discusses how the images document Atlantic trade and everyday life, often portraying Black women in labour while also revealing powerful signifiers of resistance and important African narratives. She also shares insights from her book on Amy Ashwood Garvey and her ongoing artistic and research projects. Together, they consider how broader access to archives can expand conversations about African diasporic histories and Black feminist ways of seeing.

Sharon Walters sits down with Stella Dadzie to explore her artistic practice and approach to material that can be emotionally challenging. Stella Dadzie is a founding member of the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent and co-author of “The Heart of the Race”, a seminal history of black women in Britain. Her work spans education, advocacy, and artistic practice, often exploring themes of memory, identity, and social justice, making her approach to challenging materials both thoughtful and deeply human.The conversation takes us through a selection of images from the collections at Royal Museums Greenwich, offering insight into how Stella navigates potentially triggering content while maintaining care for her own wellbeing. Listeners will gain an intimate understanding of her creative process, her methods for engaging with difficult material, and her ongoing collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich.

With Naiza KhanWhat stories do maps and charts hold? Artist Naiza Khan selects four objects from the museum archives, bringing an artist’s lens to navigational tools and historical documents. This episode explores migration through an Indian Ocean monthly current chart, the artist’s interpretation of invasion in The Bombardment of Alexandria (1882), the symbolism of a 1956–57 Suez Canal medal, and the art of etching in a sketch of The Prince of Wales—an East India Company ship lost in a storm in 1804.Naiza Khan is a visual artist working between London and Karachi. Trained at the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, she examines colonial history, geography, and collective memory in her multidisciplinary practice.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

With Azara JaleelWhile in Sri Lanka, Mehala invites Azara Jaleel to examine a portrait photograph titled Ceylonese Man. The image—featuring a gentleman in a striking turtle-shell headdress—remains shrouded in mystery. This episode unpacks the significance of formal portraits, the pride of past generations, and the deeper ties between dress, identity, and land.Azara Jaleel is the founder and editor-in-chief of ARTRA Magazine, Sri Lanka’s leading modern and contemporary art publication. She has led discussions on Sri Lankan art with international artists, architects, and historians.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

With Anisha ParmarQueen Zeenat Mahal, the last Empress of India, was a warrior, freedom fighter, and strategist—yet her legacy is often overshadowed by history. In this episode, Mehala and jewelry designer Anisha Parmar discuss a miniature painting of Zeenat Mahal and explore how her story continues to inspire creative work today.Anisha Parmar is a UK-based jewelry designer and cultural practitioner whose work is deeply rooted in her hybrid heritage and the diaspora experience.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

With Taran Wilkhu & Nishant ShuklaThe seaside holds a special place in British culture, but what does it mean for South Asian communities in the UK? In this episode, Mehala, Taran, and Nishant reflect on The Great British Seaside, a series by photographer Martin Parr, commissioned by Royal Museums Greenwich. They discuss the photographs, which capture South Asian families enjoying classic British seaside traditions, and share their own experiences of seaside trips, storytelling through photography, and the nuances of diaspora life.Taran Wilkhu is a London-based lifestyle photographer specializing in interiors, architecture, and portrait photography. Nishant Shukla is a photographer working between the UK and India, and the director of Lake Gallery in Deptford.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

With Dee Gibson & Zaynab Zubair and Mehala FordWhat does a flag mean to a nation? To its people? Mehala, Dee, and Zaynab—members of a Sri Lankan women’s creative group based in London and Sri Lanka—visit the museum archives to view the National Flag of Ceylon (1948–1951). Seeing the flag in person sparks an emotional conversation about identity, homeland, and diaspora. They reflect on how flag symbolism evolves over time and how it shapes collective memory.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

With Shalina Patel and Mehala FordWhat is a ‘cooli’? After the abolition of slavery in 1833, the British replaced it with a system of indentured labour, recruiting workers from India under exploitative contracts. In this episode, historian and author, Shalina Patel, explores the realities of Indian indentured labour through a selection of objects linked by the term ‘cooli.’Shalina is an award-winning UK teacher and historian, and author of The History Lessons, which highlights stories traditionally left out of textbooks, particularly those of women and people of colour.Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast

In this episode, artist and PhD researcher, Rudy Loewe, and artist, Sharon Walters, discuss a range of archives from the Royal Museums Greenwich collection that focus on the impacts of the colonial gaze in historic portraiture. Together, Rudy and Sharon explore the concept of critical fabulation, coined by Saidiya Hartman, to reclaim and reimagine the lives of historic Black people, mostly those who were enslaved. They discuss the violence of museum spaces and archives and how researchers can insert care into the archive as well as caring for themselves. This episode is a beautifully honest and open discussion into how creativity and queer research methods can provide access to and empower the histories of Black African and Caribbean communities.

Emma and Yasmin in conversation with writer/poet performer, creative educator and project developer Zena Edwards and poet, DJ, workshop facilitator and co-founder of swimming collective, Swim Dem Crew Nathaniel Cole. Listen to their thoughts on everything from how their personal identity and heritage has influenced their work to stereotypes, climate issues and cultural belonging.

The second series of Descendant Talks sees the Gen Z Collective in conversation with poets and artists who participated in Speak Pon Dem, a live music jam which celebrated the Spirit of Windrush 75. In this episode Nya'lay and Nathaniel talk to the actress, poet, author and dedicated youth worker, Maia Watkins and the writer and visual artist, Kareem Parkins-Brown to discover why they took part in this event, and how their personal identity and heritage has influenced their work. They take a look at where their inspiration comes from and what the legacy of being children of the diaspora means to them.

In this episode, Sharon is joined by Fiona Compton to discuss a number of different pieces from the museum collection. The discussion evokes conversations around propaganda, representation, beauty standards and violence. Be prepared to be taken on a rollercoaster of emotions in this episode, rounding the series off with a note on the importance of self-care.Fiona Compton @knowyourcaribbeanSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

In this episode Sharon Walters, Serena Lee and Fiona Compton, visit pieces on display in the museum collections, including Yinka Shonibare’s ‘Ship in A Bottle’, Kehinde Wiley’s ‘Ship of Fools’ and the recent installation of the World Reimaged globes after the introduction through this podcast. This conversation highlights the importance of contemporary art by Black artists in predominantly white institutional spaces.Serena Lee @georgiandiasporaFiona Compton @knowyourcaribbeanSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Ekow Eshun and Serena Lee join Sharon to look at two pieces from the collection, namely ‘An engraving of Billy Walters’ and a ‘Caricature of Greenwich Pensioners’. Ideas around representation, authenticity and Blackness are explored in this episode. Interesting observations around reclaiming narratives are made, and captioned depictions from objects are challenged, thus providing fresh, new interpretations.Ekow Eshun @ekoweshunSerena Lee @georgiandiasporaSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

In this episode, Sharon Walters is joined by Rudy Loewe and Jacob V Joyce, who are both queer visual artists and PHD students. This discussion explores the Monsier de St.George’ Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges portrait, and how ‘reimaginings’ can be a powerful way to engage with archives and collections. They talk about the cataloguing of objects, archives and the violence that can occur in dehumanising Black and marginalized people in institutions. The Huntley Archives and Saturday schools are also mentioned in this conversation and the impact they have more widely.Jacob V Joyce @jacobvjoyceRudy Loewe @rudyloeweSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Trigger Warning! Themes of sexual violence and a disturbing nature.In this conversation, historian and filmmaker, Nadia Denton and podcast host and artist , Sharon Walters centre their discussion on a collection piece featuring Saartje (Sara) Baartman. Sara is a well-known figure who has a disturbing and tragic story. Nadia offers a response to Sara’s life story focussing on female power and exploitation in context to enslaved African’s.Nadia Denton @nadiajacintadentonSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

To kick off the second series, podcast host Sharon Walters is joined by Serena Lee and Fiona Compton. They review the outcomes of the first series and how impactful change is being made to reshape how stories are told as a result of the podcast. This episode is recorded at the collections Store and they look at a Georgian snuff box which references blackness through an image featured on the inside lid.Serena Lee @georgiandiasporaFiona Compton @knowyourcaribbeanSharon Walters @london_artist1Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Discover the creative talents of Windrush generation descendants in this podcast series hosted by the Gen Z Collective.Descendant Talks is a series of podcast interviews celebrating the descendants of the Windrush Generation who are helping to shape Britain today. We explore their experiences of being Black and British and take a closer look at how they are changing the game through their respective creative platforms.

Discover the creative talents of Windrush generation descendants in this podcast series hosted by the Gen Z Collective.Descendant Talks is a series of podcast interviews celebrating the descendants of the Windrush Generation who are helping to shape Britain today. We explore their experiences of being Black and British and take a closer look at how they are changing the game through their respective creative platforms.

Discover the creative talents of Windrush generation descendants in this podcast series hosted by the Gen Z Collective.Descendant Talks is a series of podcast interviews celebrating the descendants of the Windrush Generation who are helping to shape Britain today. We explore their experiences of being Black and British and take a closer look at how they are changing the game through their respective creative platforms.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.

The Seeing Ourselves podcast is part of a multi-disciplinary arts project conceived by London-based artist Sharon Walters AKA (@London_Artist1) on Instagram. Supported by the National Maritime Museum, through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project, Sharon collaborates with historian Serena Lee (@Georgian Diaspora) and artist/historian Fiona Compton (@Know your Caribbean) to explore depictions of people of African descent in the museum collections. Their discussions are frank, open, and honest to offer a unique insight into how it feels to see ‘yourself’ represented and misrepresented in museum spaces.