African and Caribbean

The first Africans recorded in Scotland were soldiers attached to the Roman army. They left with the Romans and it was not until the early 16th century that African people are known to have lived here.

In 1505, a few African men and women lived in Edinburgh, attached to the court of King James IV of Scotland. They were musicians and performers who are thought to have been taken from Portuguese slave ships.

However, it was during the 18th century that more significant numbers of African people first arrived, the majority slaves or freed servants of Scottish Planters in America and the Caribbean.

People have continued to come to Scotland from Africa and the Caribbean, arriving in times of labour shortages such as during the 1950s and 60s, or as students to study in the universities.