Josephine Morcashani (1870-1929) was a Black British entertainer who made a long career touring venues across Europe and beyond. Known for her dramatic deep voice, her glamorous outfits, and her humour, her story gives us a fascinating glimpse into how Black women performers could make careers for themselves in the face of racial and gendered stereotypes. Contemporary press reports and images from her own personal photograph collection, generously shared by her family, give us a rich picture of her unique self-styling as an elegant Creole diva or as a comedic cross-dressing trickster who refused to be boxed in.

About the Speaker:

Dr Jeff Bowersox is an Associate Professor of German History at UCL, where he teaches and researches German colonial history, Black European studies, and the history of toys. He is currently working on a book following Black stage entertainers across central Europe before the jazz age. He is also the managing editor of blackcentraleurope.com, a web resource offering 1000 years of Black histories in the German-speaking lands – check it out!

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