The Nimba tales

The Nimba tales

Participants in the Nimba Tales project
Participants in the Nimba Tales project

Our Heritage

Pendleton & Charlestown
Salford
Warm Hut UK
£60000
“Frankly speaking I wouldn’t imagine that I would be able to provide as much information as I did, I feel proud to identify my heritage.”
Isaac Balde, project participant
This oral history project celebrates the tradition and culture of the Guinea-Conakry community living in Greater Manchester.

Nimba Tales grew from a concern in the Guinea-Conakry community about the loss of their culture through the impact of migration. The project responded to the need to preserve the community’s oral tradition, make connections between generations, and leave a legacy.

Warm Hut UK works with refugees and asylum seekers in Manchester. Older community members discussed the challenges of integration, including raising children in a new culture. Producing a book of African traditions aimed at younger readers appealed to them. Young people also saw the potential to build a stronger sense of belonging and cultural identity.

A project manager and administrative assistant, recruited to manage the project, organised a research trip to the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool and training and recording activity. People were interviewed about the cultures they brought to the UK from Guinea–Conakry and what and who they left behind.

A comic-style book of the research was produced, responding to the ideas of the young participants. The book was distributed across libraries and at a project celebration event, which included musical and dance performances from the young people.