Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) is a commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme founded by Jak Beula that highlights the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain. The first NJCT heritage plaque, honouring Bob Marley, was unveiled in 2006 after "two years of research and behind the scenes negotiating"."London honours legendary reggae artist Bob Marley with heritage plaque", Africa Unite, 26 October 2006.Glen Munro, "Honouring Our Plaque Heroes", The Voice, 28 December 2016. The scheme has been run and managed by the not-for-profit organization Nubian Jak Trust Ltd since August 2016, with a remit to commemorate and celebrate the diverse history of modern Britain. Its objectives include the promotion of social equality and to encourage activities that promote cultural diversity in society.
Overview The Trust was founded by Jak Beula and works in partnership with educational groups, cultural institutions, local government, and public- and private-sector organizations. Its activities include exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and learning programmes, as well as managing a national plaque and sculpture scheme.
The scheme, which is the only one of its kind in Europe, highlights BME presence in Britain by commemorating individuals who have made a recognisable contribution to the nation.Kim Sherwood, "New Plaques for Black Icons: Sancho, Aldridge and Prince", Culture24, 11 October 2007. These individuals (mostly deceased) are either nominated by members of the public, or recommended by a special panel within the Trust, to receive a commemorative plaque. One of the most famous plaques of recent years is the Bob Marley Blue Plaque,Hugh Muir, "Blue plaque marks flats that put Marley on road to fame", The Guardian, 27 October 2006. which the Nubian Jak Community Trust arranged in partnership with the Mayor of London in October 2006."Plaque honours memories of Marley", BBC News, 26 October 2006. It was the first commemorative event organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, as well as also being County Hall's first ever blue plaque. The installation of the Bob Marley plaque was filmed as a feature for a 90-minute Arena documentary aired on BBC1 the following October called Bob Marley: Exodus 77."2007-07-03 ✡ Bob Marley Exodus '77 - BBC documentary". YouTube.
The next three Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques were installed as part of the bicentenary commemoration for the British abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807.
The first of the plaques installed in 2007 had a public ceremony unveiling inside Luton Town Hall in February 2007. The Luton Bicentenary Plaque"Nubian Jak Community Trust Commemorative Plaques 2006 – 2012", SlidePlayer. is now installed outside Luton Central Library in Central Square.
This was followed by the historic plaque to Ignatius Sancho"Ignatius Sancho", The Abolition of Slavery in London, 21 September 2012. erected in October 2007 at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the City of Westminster, near which site Sancho lived and had a grocery store.Bethan Bell, "Where are the blue plaques for black and Asian people?", BBC News, 3 October 2016. It is the only black plaque in Whitehall. A couple of weeks later, on 26 October,Caroline Mallan, "Slave girl's bravery remembered", BBC News, 26 October 2007. another NJCT bronze plaque was installed on Senate House, part of the University of London, to Bermuda-born abolitionist and author Mary Prince.Sara Wajid, "Plaque Tribute For Mary Prince, Author And Abolitionist", Culture24, 6 November 2007.
On 24 August 2018, Nubian Jak unveiled the world's largest blue plaque, honouring the pioneers of the Notting Hill Carnival."World's largest Blue Plaque unveiling honouring the pioneers of Notting Hill Carnival", Westway Trust."World’s Largest Blue Plaque Honouring Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers". 24 August 2018. YouTube video. In 2026, the plaque was relocated to Westbourne Park station.
By 2019, the Nubian Jak Community Trust Plaque Scheme had installed 50 commemorative plaques around the UK."The untold stories of black war heroes come to light", The Voice Online, 6 November 2019."Nubian Jak Community Trust Commemorative Plaques 2006 -2020". Nubian Jak.
In November 2020, the "Black Plaque Project", a joint campaign by Havas London and Nubian Jak Community Trust to honour Black Londoners, was launched to address the lack of diversity in the capital's "blue plaques". Nubian Jak blue plaques will subsequently replace the black plaques.
On 1 April 2021, a blue plaque was installed at 16-18 Trinity Gardens, Brixton, where Choice FM, the UK's only black radio station to have held a London-wide commercial licence, was launched, co-founded by Neil Kenlock and Yvonne Thompson.
Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques 2006–present
The Honourable Bob Marley plaque: October 2006 Luton Bicentenary plaque: February 2007 Ignatius Sancho plaque (Stone): October 2007 Mary Prince plaque (Bronze): October 2007 Connie Mark plaque: May 2008"Jamaican Community Activist Honoured with Blue Plaque in London", Jamaica Information Service, 4 July 2008. Claudia Jones plaque x 2 (Bronze and Blue): August 2008 Kelso Cochrane plaque: May 2009"Kelso Cochrane Honoured With A Blue Plaque", itzCaribbean, 27 April 2009. Chief Amy Ashwood Garvey plaque: November 2009"Blue Plaque honour for Amy Garvey", Jamaica Observer, 11 November 2009. ANC/Nelson Mandela anniversary plaque: February 2010Andrew Johnson, "MP’s Commons tribute to Nelson Mandela recalls the ‘massive surveillance’ of Islington refuge for anti-apartheid fighters", Islington Tribune, 13 December 2013. Learie, Lord Constantine plaque: September 2010Sandra Jackson-Opoku, "Black London History", Soul Of America. Rudy Narayan plaque: November 2010"Civil rights: Rudy Narayan honoured", Operation Black Vote, 15 November 2010. Mayor John Archer Plaque: December 2010"Pupils From Putney & Wandsworth Schools To Unveil Tribute To London's First Black Mayor", PutneySW15.com, 14 December 2010. New Cross Fire plaque: January 2011"New Cross Fire - New Cross Road, London, UK", Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com. George Padmore Plaque: June 2011"Anti-colonial campaigner commemorated with plaque", BBC News London, 28 June 2011.John Gulliver, "Toast to slayer of empires", Camden New Journal, 30 June 2011.Cameron Duodu, "George Padmore commemorated with plaque in London", Pambazuka News, 30 June 2011. Claudia Jones plaque: August 2011Hazelann Williams, "Notting Hill Carnival 'Mothers' Honoured", The Voice, 26 August 2011.Jennifer Hudson, "The forgotten black history of London’s famous Notting Hill neighborhood", mic.com, 31 October 2018. Rhaune Laslett plaque: August 2011 Frank Crichlow plaque: December 2011Lizabeth Davis, "Mangrove Founder Honoured", The Voice, 6 December 2011. Malcolm X plaque: February 2012Elizabeth Pears, "Malcolm X Remembered In Birmingham", The Voice, 21 February 2012.Steve Bradley, "New plaque marks the day Malcolm X visited Smethwick", Birmingham Mail, 22 February 2012.Rangzeb Hussain, "12th February 1965: The day Malcolm X came to Smethwick", I Am Birmingham, 12 February 2020. Dennis Brown plaque: April 2012Lorraine King, "Blue plaque erected in Harlesden in honour of reggae singer Dennis Brown", Kilburn Times, 10 April 2012. Russell Henderson plaque: August 2012Mick Hutton, "Russ Henderson: Inspirational jazz pianist and steel-pan player who played a central role in establishing the Notting Hill Carnival", The Independent, 14 September 2015. Leslie Palmer plaque: August 2012Berny Torre, "Leslie Palmer and Russell Henderson to be honoured", Operation Black Vote, 23 August 2012. Arthur Wint plaque: October 2012"Jamaica’s Gentle Giant Honoured in London", Jamaica Information Service, 21 October 2012. Bernie Grant MP Plaque: October 2012"N15: There were never such devoted Sisters", Walking London one postcode at a time, 16 November 2015. Samuel Coleridge Taylor Plaque: December 2012"Conductor Alwyn unveils blue plaque to Croydon composer", Inside Croydon, 2 January 2013. Frederick Douglass plaque: February 2013Francine Fernandes, "Frederick Douglass: Blue Plaque Unveiling", Operation Black Vote, 19 February 2013. Frank Bates plaque: May 2013"Plaque: Frank Bates", Memorial, London Remembers."London jazz legend commemorated", ITV News, 19 May 2013. Stephen Lawrence anniversary plaque: June 2013"Plaque: Stephen Lawrence - Deptford", Memorial, London Remembers. Pete Robinson Plaque: July 2013"Plaque: Pete Robinson", Memorial, London Remembers."Plaques – blue and otherwise", The Brixton Society. Laurie Cunningham plaque: October 2013"Leyton Orient To Unveil Laurie Cunningham Plaque", Kick It Out, 4 October 2013.Amelia Burr, "Blue plaque tribute to Leyton Orient legend, Laurie Cunningham", West London & West Essex Guardian, 7 October 2013. Dr John Alcindor plaque: July 2014William McLennan, "Heritage plaque tribute to doctor who treated wounded soldiers as they returned from First World War battlefields", West End Extra, 25 July 2014."John Alcindor: the famous black doctor of Paddington and WWI local hero", British Red Cross. Updated 2 October 2023. George Africanus plaque: October 2014Norma Gregory, "Blue Heritage Plaque Unveiled for George Africanus", Nottingham News Centre, 10 October 2014."George Africanus Tram unveiled in Nottingham", Nottingham News Centre. Walter Tull plaque: October 2014"Pioneering footballer and WW1 soldier Walter Tull honoured with plaque in London", Centenary News, 23 October 2014."Nubian Jak Unveils Plaque to Walter Tull", Sean Creighton, 24 October 2014. Sidney Bechet plaque: November 2014"Jazz Giant and Pioneer, Sidney Bechet, Honoured With Blue Heritage Plaque in Fitzrovia", BenTV, 20 November 2014.Martin Chilton, "Sidney Bechet awarded blue plaque", The Telegraph, 25 November 2014. British West Indies Regiment Seaford plaques x 2, November 2015Shez Chung Blake, "African and Caribbean War Memorial unveiled at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton – photos", Brixton Buzz, 12 November 2014."Plaque to honour the West Indies fallen", Eastbourne Herald, 12 November 2015. and March 2018"Blue Plaque Unveiling for the British West Indies Regiment", Haven News, 2 March 2018."New memorial to British West Indies Regiment on Sussex coast", Centenary News, 13 March 2018."Plaque honours brave men from far away islands", Sussex Express, 15 March 2018."The West Indian Regiment", Seaford Heritage Trail.Chris Kempshall, "Blue Plaques in Seaford for West Indian Soldiers", The First World War, East Sussex. Cy Grant plaque: November 2017Jon King, "Life and work of black theatre pioneer Cy Grant to be marked with blue plaque at icon’s Highgate home", Ham & High, 10 November 2017.Sean Creighton, "Nubian Jak unveils plaque to Cy Grant on Armistice Remembrance Day", History & Social Action News and Events, 12 November 2017. Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers plaque: August 2018"World’s Largest Blue Plaque Unveiling Honouring The Pioneers Of Notting Hill Carnival", Minority Perspective, 20 August 2018.Fayola Douglas, "Blue plaque unveiled for Notting Hill Carnival", London Live, 24 August 2018. Daphne Steele plaque: 16 October 2018Amar Mehta, "Former Balham nursing student recognised for her work", Wandsworth Times, 2 October 2018."Daphne Steele – First Black Matron in the NHS", Historycal Roots, 16 October 2016."Blue plaque for inspirational nurse", Ilkley Gazette, 3 December 2018."Windrush Generation Nurse Honoured With Blue Plaque", The Voice, 5 December 2018. Eric Huntley and Jessica Huntley plaque: October 2018Michelle Yaa Asantewa, "The Huntley Blue Plaque Memorial Tribute: 'A community Healing Experience'", Way wive wordz, 20 October 2018. Ida B. Wells plaque, 12 February 2019"Birmingham blue plaque unveiled to commemorate civil rights activist Ida B. Wells", I Am Birmingham, 14 February 2019.Washington, Linn (14 February 2019), "Ida Wells Barnett honored in Birmingham, England", The Chicago Crusader.