UPDATE 10 Nov: Although the trail has now finished, there's one last chance to see the globes, and all in one place. All 96 will be in Trafalgar Square on 19 and 20 November 2022 ahead of auction.
Dozens of globes across four trails are opening eyes to the Transatlantic slave trade.
If you've walked (or queued) for any distance in central London lately then you're likely to have come across these painted globes.
Each one is designed by a different artist, and tells a story from "the history, legacy and future of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans".
The globes are part of a project called The World Reimagined, which wants us all to think more deeply about this appalling chapter in our shared history. The Transatlantic slave trade was abolished long ago, but its effects ripple down to our own time. Racial injustice and inequality have not gone away.
The four trails can be found in Southwark/Lambeth, the City, Hackney/Newham and Westminster/Camden. The carefully thought-out routes not only include a dozen or so globes, but also guide you to buildings and features with connections to the Transatlantic slave trade.
We learn from the statue of Queen Anne at St Paul's, for example, that the monarch held 22.5% of the stock in the South Sea Company, which trafficked some 34,000 slaves to the Americas.
As well as shining a light on the horrors of the past and challenges of the present, the project also strikes an optimistic note, celebrating "a modern, united Africa, that is reclaiming its strong and stable roots and gains influence and power in a globalised world". A case in point is Yinka Shonibare's globe, shown at the top of the page, which shows Transatlantic slave trading routes, but with the names of celebrated African cultural figures as labels.
The globe trails will be particularly rewarding for families. Older children (and adults) will learn plenty, while younger kids will engage with the bright colours and bold images (the globes we've seen reflect pride, triumph over adversity and even celebration). QR codes on each globe lead to further information, and a tracking form where you can tick off each globe.
The base of each globe also features a short "I was here" section, acknowledging a person whose name and age are known, but whose story is lost to history.
Sculpture trails are now an ever-present part of London's street scene, but this one stands head and shoulders above the others for both its big messages and impressive designs. As the globes repeat: "This is not 'Black History', this is all of our history."
The World Reimagined runs in London and other cities until 31 October 2022. The project also includes numerous events and tours.
