I imagined John Blanke as a familiar musical icon. The Bob Marley of his time. A recognisable brown face in a sea of beige with his own signature look that no formal event could overturn. His name may have been given to him, his attire changed from country to country and court to court but his music and spiritually he would carry with him wherever he travelled. He was no stranger to royalty, formality or choreographed order, it flowed through his veins. Mediocrity was never an option, excellence was his middle name, a man of integrity he expected nothing less from others and wouldn't settle for anything less. In England he planted his seed, marrying the woman of his dreams with gifts from the King, completing another chapter of his unwritten living biography, we eagerly turned the page to learn more, but like a vibrant life short lived we are left longing and wondering what was and what would have been.

Hannah Uzor
Artist