A sculpture honouring a British-Nigerian man who drowned after being chased by police is set to be officially unveiled in Leeds.
David Oluwale died in the River Aire in the city centre on 18 April 1969.
Hibiscus Rising, a colourful flower sculpture standing 31ft (9.5m) tall, has been installed on Meadow Lane, near where Mr Oluwale entered the water.
“I wanted something to unite the community of Leeds and bring people together,” artist Yinka Shonibare said.
Two officers were jailed after Mr Oluwale’s death – it was the first successful prosecution of British police officers for involvement in the death of a black person, according to Leeds Civic Trust.
The project has been a collaboration between The David Oluwale Memorial Association, Leeds 2023 and Leeds City Council.
David Oluwale
Mr Oluwale’s death led to the first prosecution of British police for involvement in the death of a black person, Leeds Civic Trust says
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, the council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “It’s so important to remember a city’s history and I think that means remembering the fantastic parts, but also the darker periods.
“Ultimately it was racism that killed David and acknowledging that part of our history is really important as we look to the future.
“It’s something so significant for the city and I hope the people of Leeds treasure it for years.”
The sculpture, which sits in the centre of a new public seating area, will be officially opened on Friday.
Mr Shonibare, who has created the artwork to remember Mr Oluwale: “I chose the symbol of the hibiscus as I saw the flower everywhere when I was growing up in Nigeria and it reminds me of happier times.
“I didn’t want his legacy to be about sad things, I thought it is better for him to be remembered in a nice way.”
Hibiscus Rising
Hibiscus Rising was supported by Art Fund, Arts Council England and the Henry Moore Foundation
Yinka Shonibare
British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare says he remembers “sucking the nectar from the hibiscus” when he was a child
He added: “I wanted something to unite the community of Leeds and bring people together.”
Leeds 2023 – a year-long celebration of the city and its culture – is holding a day of free Hibiscus Rising-themed events on Saturday at the nearby Tetley.
Abigail Scott Paul, Leeds 2023’s director of external relations, said the sculpture gave her “goosebumps” when she first saw it.
Abigail Scott Paul
Abigail Scott Paul, of Leeds 2023, says the “beautiful” sculpture will provide “hope for the future”
“I think it will become a permanent piece of art that will attract people from all over the country to come and visit,” she said.
“We’re really lucky to have an artist of the calibre of Yinka Shonibare to decide to work in this city, I think it’s going to have a massive impact.
“Hibiscus Rising comes from a very tragic story of the city, but it’s one that now provides hope for the future.”
Presentational grey line
David Oluwale plaque
A blue plaque was installed on Leeds Bridge in 2022, with the new David Oluwale Bridge over the River Aire officially opened in early 2023
Who was David Oluwale?
David Oluwale migrated from Nigeria to the UK in August 1949, hiding on a cargo ship destined for Hull.
He spent his final two years homeless in Leeds city centre, where he was routinely mentally and physically abused by two police officers.
In the early hours of 18 April 1969, he was chased on to a bridge over the River Aire, and his body was found in the water two weeks later.
Two officers were later jailed for a series of assaults, but justice and civil rights campaigners said their trial presented a deliberately negative portrait of Mr Oluwale as a “social nuisance”.