By Basant El-Faramawy
BAFTA-winning historian David Olusoga has reflected on the people and moments that shaped his life, the values that guide his work, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. In a wide-ranging interview, Olusoga discussed his childhood, the role of empathy in historical storytelling, his campaigning on health inequality, and his support for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Early life and education
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1970 to a Nigerian father and British mother, Olusoga moved to Gateshead at the age of five after his parents separated. His mother, a fierce advocate for education, filled their council house with books and musical instruments and took the children to museums and galleries during summers in Edinburgh and London. Despite this cultural richness, the family endured racism and violence on their estate, including an attack that forced them to move. Olusoga said he deliberately refused to let those experiences define his relationship with his country.
A passion for history sparked by television
Olusoga credits the historian Michael Wood's documentaries for igniting his love of the past. Wood "stamped history on the landscape," making Olusoga realise that ordinary places were stages for great dramas. This insight underpins his career-long focus on the histories of ordinary people, from Black and Asian troops in the First World War to residents of a Victorian terrace in Liverpool.
Empathy as a guiding principle
Olusoga identifies empathy as the most important quality a person can possess, a value instilled by his remarkably gentle grandfather. Empathy, he says, underpins both his professional work — allowing him to imagine the reality of lives lived centuries ago — and his personal life. It also drives his campaigning on health inequality, where he highlights the stark life expectancy gap between affluent southern England and deprived northern areas.
Campaigning for health equality
Olusoga has spoken out on how race, class and geography affect cancer diagnosis, care and survival. This year he supported Macmillan Cancer Support's Fair Cancer Care campaign, which aims to raise awareness and demand change. He noted that factors such as postcode, skin colour and income can determine how quickly someone is diagnosed and the quality of treatment they receive.
Personal illness and the value of charities
The historian revealed he suffered a serious illness in his 40s that kept him off work for well over a year. The experience of receiving a life-changing diagnosis gave him first-hand insight into the vital role of charities. "Charities like Macmillan are absolutely essential," he said. "They are fundamental, and we are very lucky to have them." He views charitable giving, particularly gifts in wills, as a way past generations invest in the wellbeing of future ones.
Legacy, wills and the future
Olusoga did not write a will until he became a father, realising that adulthood requires thinking beyond one's own lifespan. As a historian, he often uses wills to understand historical figures' priorities and values. He sees his own will as a chance to speak to the future, hoping to pass on his sense of empathy. Of his professional legacy, he remains modest: historians are "links in a chain," part of a longer story in dialogue across generations.
A patient's experience with Macmillan
Renita, an author and mother of two diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2024, described how Macmillan's support line, online community, scarf-tying workshops and financial advice helped her family navigate treatment. "Without Macmillan, my cancer experience would have been very difficult," she said. "It's like someone offering you a helping hand when you really need it."
Macmillan's range of support
Macmillan offers free, confidential support through its support line and a 24-hour online community for anyone affected by cancer. Services include emotional reassurance, practical information, guidance on money worries, and opportunities to connect with others who understand the experience.
