Tracing Your Ancestry

The bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade will be marked with renowned geneticists who will unravel the DNA history of Tim Campbell, winner of BBC One’s The Apprentice in 2005, and Cedric Barber, a white descendant of Samuel Johnson’s servant. The event tackles the issues surrounding tracing genetic lineage and the legacy of slavery. Questions raised will include: Is DNA the key to finding your African or European roots? Can genetic testing give you a better sense of who you are? This event has been curated by Prof. Elizabeth Anionwu, Head, The Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice.

A white descendant of Francis Barber, the African/Caribbean servant of lexicologist, Dr Samuel Johnson and the BBC TV Apprentice winner Tim Campbell discover their ancestral history live on the night

The bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade is to be marked at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre in London, at an evening event exploring genetic lineage and the legacy of slavery.

The one-off free event on Thursday 29 March will bring together renowned geneticists including Dr Peter Forster with Tim Campbell, the winner of the BBC TV The Apprentice in 2005, and Cedric Barber, a white descendant of Dr Samuel Johnson’s servant who will be unravelling their ancestry through DNA analysis

Tim Campbell and Cedric Barber are both currently having their DNA analysed to ascertain the proportion of African/European (and other) ancestry. Results will be discussed at the event.

The event tackles the issues surrounding the science and ethics of using DNA analysis to trace ancestry in respect to African and European origins of individuals whose ancestors had slave origins. Questions raised will include: Is DNA the key to finding your African or European roots? Can online purchasing of genetic testing give you a better sense of who you are?

The Dana Centre is the Science Museum’s adults-only bar and café for discussing contemporary science, health, medicine, technology and the environment in a cultural context.

Panellists at Tracing Your Ancestry include:
• Mr Cedric Barber: a white descendant of Francis Barber, the African/Caribbean servant of lexicologist, Dr Samuel Johnson who wrote his best known work A Dictionary of the English Language between 1747 and 1755
• Mr Tim Campbell, 2005 winner of Alan Sugar’s The Apprentice who has agreed to have his DNA analysed
• Dr Peter Forster, geneticist and representative from a DNA testing company
• Dr Mark Thomas, geneticist from University of London
• Dr Caroline Bressey, Research Fellow, Department of Geography, University College London and Co-Curator of London & Slavery Gallery Museum in Dockland

This event has been curated by Prof. Elizabeth Anionwu, Head, The Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice, Thames Valley University.

Prof. Elizabeth Anionwu said: “I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to organize this event at the Dana Centre. The topic combines many of my own interests: genetics, Black History, ethics and debates on contemporary uses of science. The participants will ensure a stimulating debate that enables personal insights concerning the bicentenary of the abolition of trading in slavery within the British Empire.”

Sunday 25th March 2007 is the start of activities commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of trading in slavery in the British Empire.

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