In 2022, archaeologists working on a cluster of early medieval cemeteries near the southern coast of England found the remains of two individuals with West African ancestry whose burials were dated to the 7th century.
There was a fashion in the 1700s for military bands in Europe to include African musicians, usually playing the large timpani drums or the "Jingling Johnny" reputedly borrowed from the Ottoman Turks. Often they were clothed in 'exotic' turban, blossoming pantallons, etc. inspired supposedly by the Turks, again. However, while a handful of individual stories survive their origins are unclear.
Great insights. Africa was never cut from Europe, the Middle East, India and China. This idea always was quite Eurocentric.
There was a fashion in the 1700s for military bands in Europe to include African musicians, usually playing the large timpani drums or the "Jingling Johnny" reputedly borrowed from the Ottoman Turks. Often they were clothed in 'exotic' turban, blossoming pantallons, etc. inspired supposedly by the Turks, again. However, while a handful of individual stories survive their origins are unclear.
I meant to add that they were usually referred to as "Ethiopians" suggesting that this was used generically to refer to anyone from Africa.