David Olusoga at Stroud Subscription Rooms

Quite a while ago I was very pleased when Helena told me that David Olusoga had been booked to speak at the Subscription Rooms. We’ve been enjoying several fascinating tv shows he has presented, all with a theme of history. The most recent series on the ‘History of the Union’ I found particularly enlightening.

There was a full house tonight and very appreciative from the moment he walked on stage. He started with an apology that he wasn’t going to exactly follow the stated title of his talk – ‘The state of the British Union, why black history matters’. Instead he began by concentrating on a prepared theme around statues, whose importance he thinks is far too exaggerated. In fact he feels they are often dangerously misinterpreted.

At times he veered away from the central theme, but then returned to it, with great insights that were challenging. After about forty minutes he completed his talk and then invited questions. I found that part even more interesting as we could hear how he responded to a range of questions, and see that he wasn’t afraid to disagree with questioners viewpoints and responded with careful arguments. He left to great applause. 

I will revisit his tv programmes, as there was much to be absorbed in them. I like tv documentaries which present ideas and considered arguments, and especially when presented intelligently, which he and his team certainly manage to achieve. Apparently there is a new series of ‘A House Through Time’ ready to be broadcast soon. Excellent news.

David Olusoga on Desert Island Discs – 10th January 2021