Dr Christopher Roy Zembe

I am a Senior Lecturer in History at ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ and co-editor of the journal Black Histories: Dialogues under the Taylor and Francis Portfolio. My research interests are the African Diaspora, and Colonial and Post-Colonial Histories of Sub-Saharan Africa. Published work consists of: a book  "Zimbabwean Communities in Britain Imperial and Post-Colonial Identities and Legacies" (2018); book chapters titled "Quest for a Cohesive Diaspora African Community: Reliving Historic Experiences by Black Zimbabweans in Britain"in a book on ‘New Perspectives on Black British History’ (2019); and The Question of Legacy: Mandela Is Not Mugabe" in the book "Black Britain: The Life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: What More is There to Say?" (2024); Peer Reviewed Journal articles "Migrating with Colonial and Post-Colonial Memories: Dynamics of Racial Interactions within Zimbabwe's Minority Communities in Britain (2016) and "Deceptive Diplomacy and Racism in Post-War Black British Immigration: Hallmarks of the Legacies of Slave Trade and Colonisation" (2024).The journal article was based on a conference paper he presented at the European Social Science History Conference in Vienna on 25th April 2014. I have spoken of my research to an audience of academics and members of the public. In 2016, 2021, and 2023 I presented papers at at the European Social Science History Conference on the African Diaspora and legacies of colonialism.  In October 2017 I presented a paper on impact of memory on Zimbabwean immigrants at ‘New Perspectives on Black British History Conference’ held at Goldsmiths University in London. My broader contributions include work with the History Matters initiative, where I was a pioneer in creating an organisation aimed at addressing the lack of Black historians in Britain. I have also been involved with Serendipity Leicester in creating ab oral archive of Africans in the East Midlands. 

Institute of Global Challenges and Cultures

I have a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publications. My published work includes:

1. A book chapter titled "The Question of Legacy: Mandela Is Not Mugabe" in the book Black Britain: The Life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: What More is There to Say? (Bloomsbury, 2024).
2. A journal article titled "Deceptive Diplomacy and Racism in Post-War Black British Immigration: Hallmarks of the Legacies of Slave Trade and Colonisation" (Taylor and Francis, 2024).
3. A book chapter titled "Quest for a Cohesive Diaspora African Community: Reliving Historic Experiences by Black Zimbabweans in Britain" in the edited book New Perspectives on Black British History (London, Zed Books, 2019).
4. A monograph titled Zimbabwean Communities in Britain: Imperial and Post-Colonial Identities and Legacies (Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018).
5. An article titled "Migrating with Colonial and Post-Colonial Memories: Dynamics of Racial Interactions within Zimbabwe's Minority Communities in Britain" (Journal of Migration History, 2016).

 Monograph: Zimbabwean Communities in Britain: Imperial and Post-Colonial Identities and Legacies (Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018)

African Diaspora and Colonial and Post Colonial Histories of Sub-Saharan Africa.

 African Diaspora (UK); Multicultural Britian; Race, Racism and Genocide; Africa's Sub-Saharan Africa's Colonial Legacies and Nation Building; Neo-Colonialism 

• BA (hons), MRes, PhD History

 Nation Empire and Revolution; Ideology, War and Society; Global Cold War; Multicultural Societies in History; Empire and its Aftermath; Global Cities

Monograph Zimbabwean Communities in Britain: Imperial and Post-Colonial Identities and Legacies won the Faculty’s best Research Book award in 2019.

Nominated for a Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award 2014 and 2016.

I have been involved with 'History Matters' Project . The project explores why there are few history students or academics of African or Caribbean heritage in British universities. I am also the  History Academic Affiliate working with the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre in driving forward conversations about race and social justice.

I have also been collaborating with Serendipity Leicester, an institute for Black Arts and Heritage, to develop an oral archive of African voices. 

I have presented papers at the European Social Science History Conference, 2016, 2023 and 2023 on the African diaspora in Britain.

I have been part of panel discussions under the theme "Colonial Legacies and Diaspora Transnational Blackness", streamed live on YouTube to a global audience. I specifically discussed “Regional Transnational Blackness”, focusing on the experiences of Black Africans in diverse cities such as Leicester.

1. A book chapter "The Question of Legacy: Mandela Is Not Mugabe" in the book Black Britain: The Life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: What More is There to Say? (Bloomsbury, 2024).
2. Journal article titled "Deceptive Diplomacy and Racism in Post-War Black British Immigration: Hallmarks of the Legacies of Slave Trade and Colonisation" (Taylor and Francis, 2024).

Monograph Zimbabwean Communities in Britain: Imperial and Post-Colonial Identities and Legacies (Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018).

Second Supervisor  PhD student, Karl Arthur, on the research titled "Sedition and State Overwatch: Radicalism, Racial Politics and Britain’s Black Communities."

Reseach Institute Funding on African Migration in Britain. 

Invited by Pluto Press to review a proposal for the edited book “New Histories of African and Caribbean People in Britain”. Following the book's publication in 2023, I was further requested to write an endorsement.

In December 2022, I was approached by Routledge Taylor and Francis Publishers to review a book proposal titled "Toponymy, Power, and Colonial Urban Legacies: The Case of Harare, Zimbabwe," which was published in December 2023.

I am Co-editor of Journal Black Histories: Dialogues, I contribute to advancing a more diverse and inclusive understanding of the global histories of people of African descent.

In 2022 contributed to an article in the Online Guardian Newspaper  providing insights into why cities like Leicester and Birmingham have become the UK’s first “super-diverse” cities, where the majority of the population comes from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds ("Diversity is a Beautiful Thing": The View from Leicester and Birmingham).