A New Statue for London

Londonist likes statues. In fact we reckon there should be one on every corner. And so we were pleased as rum punch to note the unveiling of a new one in Stockwell Memorial Gardens last week: Britain’s first ever public statue of a black woman. It is a fluid and joyous piece – a mother swinging her child aloft – and was inspired by a poem written by Cecile Nobrega over 20 years ago. It is designed to celebrate the strength and pride of Caribbean women and their hopes for the future. This being Black History Month, it is also to be used as a symbol to draw attention to Caribbean culture.