A memorial to the victims of Transatlantic slavery to be installed in London’s docklands

The design for a memorial to victims of the Transatlantic slave trade has been chosen to be installed outside the London Museum Docklands – an area whose history is closely linked with transatlantic slavery.

The memorial, called The Wake and designed by Khaleb Brooks, is in the shape of a large bronze cowrie shell. The design was chosen because cowrie shells hold cultural and spiritual significance, but they became a stark symbol of slavery and the exploitation of human life as a form of currency.

For example, although widely used in West Africa, shell money was also used in India, where in 1830, a single slave would sell for 25,000 cowries.

The Wake acknowledges that dark past but also aims to reclaim the cowrie shell as a symbol of resilience, creating a space for contemplation and reflection. There will also be a number of smaller shells installed at other locations that have connections to the trade of enslaved people, recognising that the legacy of transatlantic slavery is still present the capital.

Following a public consultation period, an artistic advisory panel of experts from the fields of art, academia, and the public realm chose Khaleb’s work from a shortlist of six proposals.

The creation of the memorial has been made possible thanks to a £500,000 funding pledge by the Mayor of London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m pleased to announce The Wake by Khaleb Brooks as the new Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery. Khaleb’s work is a stark reminder of the pain and suffering caused by transatlantic slavery and the role the UK and London played.

“It’s essential that London’s streets, statues and memorials reflect our shared history, and this memorial will help to remind and educate Londoners of the capital’s role in this terrible treatment of human beings. It will also honour the achievements of descendant communities, as we continue to build a better and fairer London for everyone.”

The idea for the memorial was first proposed in 2021, and in 2023, the London Museum Docklands was selected as a suitable location for it. The long list of proposed memorials was drawn up earlier this year, and the chosen design was selected from a shortlist of six final proposals.

The memorial will be formally unveiled outside the London Museum Docklands in 2026. It will sit close to and contrast with the empty plinth where the statue of the slaveholder Robert Milligan stood until 2020.