News / David Olusoga
David Olusoga receives honorary doctorate
Popular historian and broadcaster David Olusoga has received a honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Bristol on Thursday.
Currently professor of Public History at the University of Manchester and director of Hillgate Films, David has been described as one of Britain’s foremost historians, specialising in military history, empire and slavery.
British history was explored in his award-winning book and TV documentary by the same name, Black and British: A Forgotten History.
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Other shows that he contributed to include: Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners, The World’s War, The Secret Windrush Files, Extra Life- a Short History of Living Longer and the landmark BBC arts series Civilizations.
Alongside his literary and broadcast work, David has written for numerous publications and is a key academic contributor to the Oxford Companion to Black British History.
Many of his historical explorations have been set against the streets of Bristol in shows such as Museum of Us, created by David’s own production company Uplands TV.
His contribution to Bristol continued as he held hosted Marvin Rees’ final public event as mayor to reflect on his time in office.
His work doesn’t end there, he will soon be bringing his knowlege and creativity to the stages of the UK from November in show A Gun Through Time.
The show focusses on guns as objects that incite conquest, survival and social upheaval.
A Gun Through Time
The honorary degree is but the latest in an extensive list of accolades and awards for David.
In 2019, he was awarded an OBE for services to History and to community integration.
His screen career was recognised by BAFTA in a ceremony in 2023 where he received the BAFTA Special Award to mark his groundbreaking contributions.
He is recipient of the British Academy’s Presidents Medal and the Norton Medlicott Medal For Services to History.
As well as being a Fellow of the British Academy, The Royal Society of Literature, The Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Historical Society.
In March 2024, he was the host of Marvin Rees’ final public event as mayor to reflect on his time in office.
More recently it was announced that he will be hosting an in-conversation event with former President Barack Obama at the O2 Arena in London in September.
Addressing graduating students in the Great Hall at the Wills Memorial Building, David said: “Every generation is astonished by the moment when you start to be the leaders of your society and every generation goes through the world, rises up through their career with a thought in their mind.
“The thought is when are the grown-ups going to arrive? At some point you need to accept one of two things.
“One of these things must be true.
“Either there are no grown-ups, and they are never going to turn up or the other is that you have become the grown-ups because of the work and the dedication and those thousands of hours that you expended here on your studies.
“Because of the journey that you’re about to embark upon, because of the springboard into life your studies here will bring you – you will become the grown-ups, and you will work out there ain’t no one coming.
“It’s down to you. You face a world that my generation did not.
“Your generation will shape this new epoch, whatever it is going to be, whatever it is going to be called, and you will shape it because you have much, much more power than you realise.
“You will inherit this nation. You will inherit its future.”
David David Olusoga, presenter of A House Through Time- photo courtesy of BBC
At the ceremony Dr Marie-Annick Gournet, pro vice-Chancellor (Reparative and Civic Futures), said: “Here at this University, we are on our own journey to confront our historic links to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and the urgent need for reparative justice.
“It is challenging work, and it should be.
“David’s work reminds us that confronting the past isn’t about tearing down – it’s about building up, by telling the whole story.
“He shows us that truth-telling isn’t about shame – it’s about dignity.
“It isn’t about erasing history – it’s about completing it. And when we engage in that work bravely and honestly, we don’t weaken our institutions – we make them stronger, fairer, and more relevant to the world we serve.
“He has also been a powerful advocate for increasing diversity in academia and media.
“He’s spoken candidly about the isolation of being one of the few Black historians in British television, and about the importance of representation; not as a box to tick, but as a vital part of understanding our shared history.”
🗣️ “The boundary between the front line and the home front blurred a great deal”
David and Sarah discuss how women in Britain were crucial to the war effort in WW2. @FindMyPast #ad pic.twitter.com/vk6cvZePP2
— Journey Through Time (@ThroughTimePod) June 26, 2025
Main photo: University of Bristol
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