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Black Welsh people

{{Short description|Welsh people of black African/Afro-Caribbean descent}}

File:Shirley Bassey (1971).jpg, singer]]

Black Welsh people are inhabitants of Wales who have an African or an Afro-Caribbean background and are black. Wales is home to one of the United Kingdom's oldest black communities, and Tiger Bay in Cardiff has housed a large Somali population since the development of the port in the 19th century. The 2011 census reported that there were more than 18,000 Welsh-African people in Wales (0.6% of the Welsh population).{{cite web|title=Office for National Statistics: Wales 2011|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/2011censuskeystatisticsforwales/2012-12-11#ethnic-group-and-identity|access-date=8 February 2021}}

The first recorded black person to live in North Wales, of whom historians have detailed knowledge, was John Ystumllyn (died 1786), a Gwynedd gardener whose origins are unrecorded.{{cite ODNB |last=Green |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Green (librarian) |date=10 October 2019 |title=Ystumllyn, John (d. 1786), gardener |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.112797|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-112797 }}

Demographics

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical Population

|type =

| footnote =

|align = right

|width =

|state =

|shading =

|pop_name =

|percentages = 12%

|source = Office for National Statistics

|1991| 9,492

|2001| 7,069

|2011| 18,276

|2021| 27,554|}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; margin:auto;"

|+ Black Welsh people by census data

rowspan="2" |Ethnic group

! colspan="2" |2021{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/87c867f1-15bc-4f2a-a1ec-51f5a0c2d410 |title= Ethnic group - England and Wales regions |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=29 November 2022 |access-date=30 November 2022}}

! colspan="2" |2011{{cite web |title=QS201EW: Ethnic Group |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs201ew |publisher=Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |access-date=30 January 2013}}

! colspan="2" |2001{{cite web |title=KS006: Ethnic group |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2001/ks006 |publisher=Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |access-date=30 June 2003}}

! colspan="2" |1991{{cite web |title=1991 census - local base statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/lbs91 |publisher=Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |access-date=14 June 2023}} Tables L01 to L18: Demographic and economic characteristics > L06 Ethnic group

Number

!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}

!Number

!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}

!Number

!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}

!Number

!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}

Black Welsh people

| 27,554

| 0.89%

| 18,276

| 0.60%

| 7,069

| 0.24%

| 9,492

| 0.33%

—Black African

| 19,907

| 0.64%

| 11,887

| 0.39%

| 3,727

| 0.13%

| 2,671

| 0.09%

—Black Caribbean

| 3,700

| 0.12%

| 3,809

| 0.12%

| 2,597

| 0.09%

| 3,348

| 0.12%

—Other Black

| 3,947

| 0.13%

| 2,580

| 0.08%

| 745

| 0.03%

| 3,473

| 0.12%

{{WAL}}

! 3,107,494

! 100%

! 3,063,456

! 100%

! 2,903,085

! 100%

! 2,835,073

! 100%

Notable black Welsh people

=Sports=

==Association football==

  • Ethan Ampadu{{Cite news|work=Wales Online|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/wales-face-tug-war-england-11729005|title=The 15-year-old wonderkid England want to poach has just become big news|first=Paul|last=Abbandonato|date=10 August 2016}}
  • George Berry
  • Nathan Blake{{Cite web|title=Nathan Blake, sportsman with a Welsh connection!|url=https://www.famouswelsh.com/sportsmen/1320-nathan-blake|access-date=2020-10-18|website=www.famouswelsh.com}}
  • Ben Cabango
  • Robert Earnshaw{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10335~10123,00.html |title=Profiles: Robert Earnshaw |publisher=Cardiff City F.C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529235615/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10335~10123%2C00.html |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}
  • Danny Gabbidon{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/coaches/daniel-gabbidon/2714/ |title=D. Gabbidon: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=25 November 2018}}
  • Ryan Giggs{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54705948|title=Giggs 'proud' of mixed race heritage|work=BBC Sport}}
  • Adam Henley
  • Brennan Johnson
  • Joel Lynch
  • Rabbi Matondo
  • Eddie Parris[http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/latestnews/3589026.On_my_Ed__son_/ Article in Chepstow Free Press] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003222002/http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/latestnews/3589026.On_my_Ed__son_/|date=3 October 2011}}
  • Jazz Richards
  • Tyler Roberts
  • Hal Robson-Kanu
  • Sanchez Watt
  • Sorba Thomas
  • Ashley Williams{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/4403/Ashley-Williams/overview |title=Ashley Williams |publisher=Premier League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929222823/https://www.premierleague.com/players/4403/Ashley-Williams/overview |archive-date=29 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}

==Athletics==

  • Jamie Baulch, sprint athlete[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8674423.stm Welsh athletes Baulch and Thomas finally hold the gold]. BBC Sport (11 May 2010). Retrieved on 2010-06-04.
  • Colin Jackson[https://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/colin-jackson.shtml Who Do You Think You Are – Colin Jackson]. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 18 June 2009.
  • Christian Malcolm, track and field athlete{{cite web |url=https://www.welshathletics.org/en/page/christian-malcolm |title=Christian Malcolm |last=Williams |first=Clive |date=January 2017 |website=Welsh Athletics |access-date=8 February 2021}}
  • Nigel Walker, former Welsh track and field athlete and Wales international rugby union player{{cite web |url=http://www.eis2win.co.uk/staff/nigel-walker/ |title=Nigel Walker at EIS}}

==Rugby League==

  • Billy Boston, represented Great Britain{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=9KisIUKnTyA%2BdpyJYj%2FuhQ&scan=1|title=Birth details at freebmd.org.uk|publisher=freebmd.org.uk|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}
  • Regan Grace
  • Clive Sullivan, the first black athlete to captain Great Britain in any sport{{cite news|work=BBC News|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9114000/9114179.stm|title=Clive Sullivan remembered during Black History Month|access-date = 8 February 2021|date= 21 October 2010}}

==Rugby Union==

  • Aled Brew
  • Nathan Brew
  • Leon Brown
  • Mark Brown, became the first known player of black origin to represent Wales in 1983.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Simon |title=Meeting Mark Brown, the first black man to play rugby for Wales |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/meeting-mark-brown-first-black-21311962 |website=WalesOnline |access-date=20 October 2021 |date=14 August 2021}}
  • Colin Charvis, the first black captain of the Wales national rugby union team{{cite news|work=Wales online|title=Colin Charvis puts 'Grannygate' scandal to bed as DNA reveals he IS Welsh|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/colin-charvis-puts-grannygate-scandal-10512272|access-date=8 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Hitt |first1=Carolyn |title=Have Colin Charvis achievements as a pioneer for black rugby players in Wales been properly recognised? |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/carolyn-hitt-colin-charvis-achievements-7008304 |access-date=20 October 2021 |agency=Wales Online |date=19 April 2014}}
  • Rio Dyer
  • Jason Forster
  • Ashton Hewitt, Hewitt has also become known for speaking out against racial abuse.{{Cite web|last=Media|first=P. A.|date=2020-12-29|title=Argentina's Pablo Matera ordered to undergo anti-discrimination training|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/29/rugby-argentina-pablo-matera-training-captaincy|access-date=2021-02-24|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=Ashton Hewitt: 'People think rugby doesn't have society's problems'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/19/ashton-hewitt-people-think-rugby-doesnt-have-societys-problems|access-date=2021-02-24|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
  • Martyn Madden
  • Mackenzie Martin
  • Richard Parks, former Wales international rugby union player turned extreme endurance athlete and television presenter{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ng_dragons/8046355.stm|title=Injury forces Parks to quit rugby|date=12 May 2009|access-date=8 February 2021|work=BBC News}}
  • Anthony Sullivan
  • Ben Thomas
  • Gavin Thomas
  • Christ Tshiunza, became the first black & African born player to represent Wales in November 2021.{{cite news |last1=Baldock |first1=Andrew |title=Exeter forward Christ Tshiunza called up by Wales for Autumn Nations Series |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/wales-squad-autumn-nations-series-b1937622.html |access-date=20 October 2021 |agency=The Independent |date=13 October 2021}}
  • Eli Walker
  • Nigel Walker
  • Glen Webbe, often stated to be the first black player to play for Wales, Webbe was the first black player to represent Wales at a World Cup, and is considered by many to be Wales' "first black icon".{{cite news |last1=Jeremiah |first1=Rhodri |title=Glenn Webbe: Welsh Rugby's Black Icon |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12325/12100976/glenn-webbe-welsh-rugbys-black-icon |access-date=20 October 2021 |agency=SkySports |date=16 October 2011}}{{cite news |title=Dealing with racism and the one major incident of my career: Wales' first black rugby icon Glenn Webbe tells all |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-first-black-rugby-icon-16995158 |access-date=20 October 2021 |agency=Wa |date=5 October 2019}}

==Boxing==

  • Steve Robinson{{cite web |url= http://www.johnnyowen.com/steve_robinson.html|publisher= www.johnnyowen.com|title=Steve Robinson – World Featherweight Champion |access-date=8 February 2021}}

=Music=

  • Dame Shirley Bassey, singer{{cite web|author=Artist Biography by John Bush |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/shirley-bassey-mn0000029867/biography |title=Shirley Bassey | Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date=1937-01-08 |access-date=2014-01-25}}
  • Jason Camilleri (Dregz),{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-07-17 |title=Meet Flameholder, aka Ruffstylz, aka Dan Lloyd – hip hop pioneer, emcee, activist |url=https://wearecardiff.co.uk/2018/07/17/meet-flameholder-aka-ruffstylz-aka-dan-lloyd-hip-hop-pioneer-emcee-activist/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=We Are Cardiff |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=WELSH HOMES: Oasis is music lover's dream; DJ Dregz's home reflects his individuality. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/WELSH+HOMES:+Oasis+is+music+lover%27s+dream;+DJ+Dregz%27s+home+reflects...-a0104524064 |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}} rapper and former BBC presenter{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales - Radio Wales - Mixing It |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/mixingit/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
  • Kizzy Crawford, singer-songwriter and producer{{cite news|author=Mark Smith |title=Young singer Kizzy Crawford, from Merthyr Tydfil, wins Arts Connect Original Singer-Songwriter prize |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/young-singer-kizzy-crawford-merthyr-2497748 |work=Wales Online |date=24 January 2013}}
  • Eädyth, producer and singer-songwriter{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales - Horizons - EÄDYTH |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5b3KJnP3ZBlccqVqMhGc1jj/eadyth |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
  • Patti Flynn, jazz singer and founder and patron of Black History Wales{{cite web |url=https://www.emwwaa.org.uk/awards-1 |publisher=Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA)|title=EMWWAA Awards 2019|access-date=2020-12-03}}
  • Benji Webbe, musician, frontman of the alternative metal band Skindred{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/2017/08/04/music-saved-me-benji-webbe-of-skindred-talks-ahead-of-bloodstock-appearance/|title=Music saved me: Benji Webbe of Skindred talks ahead of Bloodstock appearance|last=Rawlins|first=Kirsten|website=Shropshirestar.com|date=4 August 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-26}}
  • Aluna Francis, musician, former member of electronic music duo AlunaGeorge

=Film and television=

  • Josie d'Arby, TV presenter{{cite news|title=City star's 'overwhelming honour'|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1688724.city-stars-overwhelming-honour/|work=South Wales Argus|access-date=8 February 2021|date=14 September 2007}}
  • Rakie Ayola, actress{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/01_january/08/sos_rakie_ayola.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - Sea of Souls Rakie Ayola|work=BBC Online|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 September 2007}}
  • Rungano Nyoni, film director and screenwriter{{cite web|title=About Rungano Nyoni|url=https://rungano.com|access-date=8 March 2018|quote=born in Lusaka, Zambia and grew up in Wales, UK.}}
  • Suzanne Packer, actress{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/brilliant-black-welsh-celebration-100-15173754|publisher=Wales Online|date=28 September 2018|access-date=15 January 2020|author=Abbie Wightwick|title=Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211164030/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/brilliant-black-welsh-celebration-100-15173754|url-status=live}}
  • Jessica Sula, actress{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12313083 |title=Swansea actress beats 8,000 to Skins role |first=Polly |last=March |work=BBC News |date=29 January 2011 |access-date=12 February 2012}}
  • Tayce, RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 2 contestant{{cite web|url= https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/tayce-rupauls-drag-race-uk-contestant/ |title= Who is Tayce? Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race UK star who wants to "give 'em the razzle dazzle"|date=6 January 2021 |access-date=28 February 2021}}
  • Darragh Mortell, actor{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8360772.actor-set-to-become-part-of-tv-history/ |title=Actor set to become part of TV history |first=Ruth |last=Mansfield |work=southwaleargus.co.uk |date=30 January 2011 |access-date=17 June 2022}}
  • Gabin Kongolo, actor

=Others=

File:Cynhadledd i'r Wasg Press Conference - 04.01.21.webm

  • Selena Caemawr, autism activist, entrepreneur and poet{{cite web |title=The Wales LGBTQ+ Timeline Collection: Caerdydd / Cardiff Edition |url=https://lgbtqcymru.swansea.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cardiff-LGBTQ-Timeline.pdf |website=LGBTQ Cymru |access-date=10 May 2025 |page=23 |format=PDF}}
  • Betty Campbell, headteacher{{Cite news |first=Harriet |last=Marsden |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/betty-rachel-elizabeth-campbell-wales-black-head-teacher-headmistress-mount-stuart-civil-rights-race-a8008541.html|title=Betty Campbell: Wales's first black headteacher took civil rights history into classrooms|date=25 October 2017|work=The Independent |location=London |language=en|access-date=15 September 2019}}
  • Abdulrahim Abby Farah, diplomat{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-44122866|work=BBC News|title=Abdulrahim Abby Farah: Tributes to Wales-born Somali diplomat|date=15 May 2018|access-date=8 February 2021}}{{cite news|work=The Guardian|last=Hayes|first=Simon|date=14 June 2018|title=Abdulrahim Abby Farah obituary|access-date=8 February 2021|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/14/abdulrahim-abby-farah-obituary}}
  • Vaughan Gething, former First Minister of Wales{{cite web | url=https://gov.wales/vaughan-gething-ms | title=Vaughan Gething MS: Minister for Economy }} in the Welsh Government, first black leader of a European nation{{cite news|last=Owen|first=Paul|date=3 August 2009|title=Black Welshman aims to take the fight to the BNP|newspaper=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|location=Manchester|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/aug/03/vaughan-gething-labour|access-date=12 May 2011}}
  • Uzo Iwobi, equalities practitioner and former Commissioner for the Commission for Racial Equality{{Cite web|title=Uzo Iwobi OBE|url=https://www.100welshwomen.wales/100-women/uzo-iwobi-obe/|access-date=13 June 2020|website=www.100welshwomen.wales|language=en}}
  • Louise Watkins Kelton, United States Marshal{{Cite news |title=Cardiff roots of new US marshal |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales-21239789 |access-date=2023-09-17}}{{Cite web |date=2012-02-02 |title=President Obama Nominates Two to Serve as US Marshals |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/02/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-marshals |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=whitehouse.gov |language=en}}

See also

{{Clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web |title=Black History Month: The People That Shaped Our Nation |url=https://www.cardiffcityfcfoundation.org.uk/black-history-month-individuals |website=Cardiff City Foundation}}

{{Wales topics}}

{{Celts}}

{{British peoples}}

{{portal bar|Wales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welsh People}}

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Category:African diaspora in Europe