The Black History Buff Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the life of Fela Kuti, the revolutionary musician who transformed the landscape of music and politics in Nigeria. The story begins in 1969 when Fela, a Nigerian jazz musician, meets a Black Panther in Los Angeles. This pivotal moment set the stage for his evolution into Africa's most dangerous artist, a title he earned by weaponizing rhythm and challenging military dictators through his groundbreaking genre, Afrobeat. Fela's journey from a trained classical musician in London to a political figure with the declaration of the independent Kalakuta Republic showcases how he fused West African rhythms with American funk, resulting in a sound rich in political urgency. Witness how Fela became more than just a musician; he was a voice against oppression, facing police raids and government persecution.

The largest gut microbiome study ever conducted in Africa has revealed a disturbing truth about what urbanisation is doing to Black bodies worldwide. Published in Nature journal, this groundbreaking research followed 1,801 women across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa and the findings should concern every member of the Black diaspora.

In this episode, King Kurus breaks down how the move from rural to urban living is literally killing beneficial bacteria that have protected African populations for millennia. But this isn’t just a modern problem. It’s the continuation of a colonial pattern that began with the systematic destruction of traditional food systems over a century ago.

We explore the historical connection between colonial economic extraction in places like Uganda, the forced urbanization of African populations, and today’s “food deserts” that plague Black communities globally. From the loss of Treponema bacteria to the rise of gut-related diseases, this episode connects cutting-edge science to the long arc of African history.

Whether you’re in Lagos, London, or Los Angeles, this story affects you. Discover why geography shapes gut health, how traditional diets protected our ancestors, and what we can learn from rural African communities that still maintain microbial diversity urban populations have lost.

Key topics covered:

• The AWI-Gen 2 Microbiome Project findings
• Colonial food system destruction and its lasting effects
• The science behind gut bacteria and health
• Why traditional African diets matter more than ever
• The connection between urbanization and disease
• What this means for Black communities worldwide

Host: King Kurus

Sources: Nature journal, University of the Witwatersrand, Stanford University, historical colonial records

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners – we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture, join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to new episodes
• Bonus episodes and content
• Be part of the creation of new episodes 
• Guest memberships
• Get featured In Episode End credits 
• Ad Free Episodes

When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK risked becoming an "island of strangers" without tougher immigration controls, the backlash was immediate. Critics immediately drew parallels to Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech. Now Starmer claims he "deeply regrets" the phrase and had no idea about the historical connection.

But King Kurus isn't buying it. In this powerful episode, he traces the pattern of how British politicians from both major parties have weaponized immigration rhetoric against Black and Brown communities for over 75 years - then claimed ignorance when called out.

From the moment the Empire Windrush docked in 1948, Labour MPs were writing letters warning about "coloured people" damaging Britain's social fabric. Government officials even seriously considered diverting the ship to force Caribbean passengers into manual labor in East Africa. The Windrush generation was never invited - they pushed through closed doors, not open ones.

King Kurus explains how a series of immigration laws from 1962 onwards systematically stripped away the rights of Black and Brown Commonwealth citizens, culminating in the 1981 British Nationality Act that abolished birthright citizenship. This legal foundation enabled what became the Windrush scandal, when Theresa May's "hostile environment" policies targeted the very people who had been told they were British.

Through the concept of "the spirit of the law," this episode reveals how politicians craft neutral-sounding policies designed to exclude while maintaining plausible deniability. It's the same playbook whether it's "swamped by different cultures" in 1978 or "island of strangers" in 2025.

This is essential listening for understanding how racist rhetoric gets recycled across generations - and why we can't fall for the same tricks over and over again.

Content Warning: Discussion of racism and discriminatory policies

King Kurus is the host of the Black History Buff podcast, bringing daily stories that matter to our community with historical context and unflinching analysis.

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners – we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture, join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to new episodes
• Bonus episodes and content
• Be part of the creation of new episodes 
• Guest memberships
• Get featured In Episode End credits 
• Ad Free Episodes

Why did Spanish colonial authorities in 1836 fear a drumbeat more than a rebellion in Havana?

In this episode, King Kurus uncovers the hidden origins of Cuban music's most distinctive rhythm. a sound that carries secrets from West Africa's leopard societies straight to your modern playlist. From the docks of colonial Cuba to today's dance floors, discover the brotherhood that Spanish officials called "ñáñigos" and tried desperately to silence.

Featuring: African diaspora history, Cuban music origins, secret societies, colonial resistance, and the surprising connections between ancient rituals and modern rhythms.

New Community Feature: Share your cultural knowledge and help improve the show! Links in description.

Perfect for fans of: Black history, Caribbean culture, music history, African traditions, Cuban heritage

Listen now to hear the leopard's roar that echoes through the centuries.

#BlackHistory #CubanMusic #AfricanDiaspora #Cuba #Podcast #History #Caribbean #Africa #Abakua #Culture

Help Me Make This Show Great - by letting me know about:

•⁠ ⁠Pronunciation: Did I mispronounce any names, places, or terms? Teach me the right way. Your cultural expertise matters.

•⁠ ⁠What's Missing? What important detail or perspective did I leave out of this story? Your knowledge fills the gaps.

•⁠ ⁠Cultural Context: How would your community or family describe this differently? Help me understand the full picture.

How to Contribute:

Email voice recordings to: podcast@blackhistorybuff.com

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Leave a comment right here.

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Your contributions will help improve future episodes, help all of us to learn more and might be featured in upcoming episodes.

It takes a village. Thank you for helping to make this one better x

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The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners, or a major enterprise. Our existence depends on our loyal listeners—we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture. Join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

Early access to new episodes

Bonus episodes and content

Be part of the creation of new episodes 

Guest memberships

Get featured in Episode End credits 

Ad-Free Episodes

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Thank you for listening, sharing, and joining us on our mission. 

Stay Blessed,

King Kurus, 

The Black History Buff

In this episode of Black History Buff: Definitions, we break down the term Maroon Communities, a powerful example of resistance, self-determination, and cultural survival in the face of enslavement and colonialism.

Maroon communities were formed by formerly enslaved Africans who escaped captivity and built free, independent settlements across the Caribbean, the Americas, and parts of Africa. These were not hidden camps, full-fledged societies, fiercely defended and rooted in African traditions.

From Jamaica's hills to Brazil's forests, Maroons fought off colonial forces, negotiated treaties, and preserved languages, music, and spiritual practices that still endure today.

This short episode explains what Maroon communities were, why they mattered, and how they represent one of the clearest forms of Black resistance in global history.

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners, or a major enterprise. Our existence depends on our loyal listeners. We rely on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture. Join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

Early access to new episodes

Bonus episodes and content

Be part of the creation of new episodes 

Guest memberships

Get featured in the Episode End credits 

Ad-Free Episodes

In this episode of Black History Buff: Definitions, we explore the Great Migration one of the largest internal movements of people in United States history.

Between 1916 and 1970, over six million African Americans left the rural South in search of better opportunities in cities across the North, Midwest, and West. They were fleeing racial violence, segregation, and poverty, and seeking work, education, and a future they could shape for themselves and their children.

This episode defines the Great Migration, explains why it happened, and highlights how it reshaped American cities, culture, and politics from music and literature to civil rights activism and urban development.

Whether you’ve heard the term before or are learning it for the first time, this short, clear explanation gives you the context and meaning behind one of the most important movements in Black American history.

Ideal for learners, educators, and anyone wanting to build a stronger understanding of Black history one definition at a time.

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners – we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture, join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to new episodes
• Bonus episodes and content
• Be part of the creation of new episodes 
• Guest memberships
• Get featured In Episode End credits 
• Ad Free Episodes

In May 2025, the Pentagon ordered military libraries to remove books addressing diversity, gender, and anti-racism. What followed was more than a quiet content review — it was a warning shot.

In this episode, King Kurus explores the chilling parallels between this modern-day censorship and historical efforts to erase marginalised voices. We unpack the emotional and political cost of disappearing stories — not just for Black service members, but for all of us.

This story links closely with our episode on epistemic erasure, where we examined how power can suppress truth through silence. If you haven’t listened to that one yet, it’s worth checking out.

Because when our stories are removed from shelves… what happens next?

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners – we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture, join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to new episodes
• Bonus episodes and content
• Be part of the creation of new episodes 
• Guest memberships
• Get featured In Episode End credits 
• Ad Free Episodes

During the Civil War, a group of remarkable Black women infiltrated enemy lines, gathered critical intelligence, and shaped the course of history — all while being overlooked and underestimated. In this episode, we dive into the stories of three unsung heroines: Mary Elizabeth Bowser, the spy with a photographic memory who infiltrated Jefferson Davis’ home; Mary Louveste, the seamstress who risked her life to deliver naval secrets to the Union; and Susie King Taylor, the battlefield nurse who used her literacy and courage to pass vital information between camps.

These women didn’t just witness history; they changed it. But how many of their names are in our history books? And what if they were given the recognition they truly deserved?

Join me, King Kurus, as we uncover the hidden legacies of these fearless women and ask — how would our understanding of heroism change if we knew their full stories?

Stay blessed, stay informed, and keep making history.

The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project. 

We aren't backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners – we depend on you.

So, if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more, join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture, join my free Patreon:

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to new episodes
• Bonus episodes and content
• Be part of the creation of new episodes 
• Guest memberships
• Get featured In Episode End credits 
• Ad Free Episodes