WritersMosaic and the British Library to celebrate the revolutionary publishing legacy of Jessica and Eric Huntley
FHALMA is delighted that the pioneering work of Jessica and Eric Huntley will be celebrated alongside that of their friend and fellow publisher Margaret Busby at a special WritersMosaic event at the British Library on Thursday 16 July 2026.
The Revolutionary Publishers will bring together conversation, poetry and song to honour three figures whose courage, independence and vision helped transform Black publishing and cultural life in Britain.
In the late 1960s, Jessica and Eric Huntley established Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, creating an independent platform for Black writers, political thinkers, educators and activists whose voices were too often excluded from mainstream publishing. Their work was rooted not simply in producing books, but in building a wider cultural and political movement: one that connected publishing with education, community organising, international solidarity and the struggle for racial justice.
From their home and bookshop in West London, Jessica and Eric created an important meeting place for generations of writers, campaigners, artists, students and members of the community. Their publishing work, activism and extensive personal papers now form the Huntley Collection at the London Archives, preserving an invaluable record of Black British history and international liberation movements.
Their friend Margaret Busby was equally pioneering. As co-founder of Allison & Busby, she became Britain’s youngest and first Black woman publisher, opening new opportunities for writers from Britain and across the African diaspora. Her latest book, Part of the Story, reflects on a remarkable life in publishing and the many writers, artists and movements she has championed.
Hosted by Colin Grant, the evening will feature Margaret Busby, poet Lemn Sissay, writer and performer Lemara Lindsay Prince, FHALMA Chief Executive Beverley Mason, and calypsonian Alexander D Great.
For FHALMA, the event is an important recognition of Jessica and Eric’s enduring legacy. Their belief that communities should document their own histories, create their own institutions and ensure that future generations can access their stories remains central to our work today.
Event details
The Revolutionary Publishers: Margaret Busby and the Huntleys
Thursday 16 July 2026
7.00–8.45pm
Pigott Theatre, British Library, London
https://events.bl.uk/events/meet-the-pioneers-the-revolutionary-publishers
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