He will trace his extraordinary journey to uncover his lineage—a story that intertwines enslaved Africans in Guyana with slaveholding dynasties in Scotland, England, and the Netherlands. Through vivid storytelling, he reveals how the transatlantic slave trade shaped economies, cities like Liverpool and Glasgow, and even modern financial institutions, while exposing enduring legacies of trauma and privilege across generations.
Announced as the winner of the University of Cambridge’s Vice-Chancellor’s Global Impact Award, Malik’s work challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about sugar’s bitter origins and the systemic exploitation that fuelled it. Discover how his personal quest illuminates Scotland’s overlooked role in slavery, the paradox of his dual heritage, and the urgent need for reconciliation with this buried past.
This event is part of the National Library of Scotland’s Black History Month programme.
About the speaker
Malik Al Nasir is a British author and performance poet. He is the leader of the band Malik & the O.G's. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge.
