The fascinating life of Bulaya Chanda, an African man who became a celebrated entrepreneur and performer in 1930s Skegness, has been brought to light in a new biography.
From Northern Rhodesia to the Western Front
Born in Northern Rhodesia, now modern-day Zambia, Bulaya Chanda lived an extraordinary life that defied the conventions of his era. He was one of only five black Africans known to have served as a combatant on the Western Front during the First World War, marking him as a truly unique historical figure.
After the war, Chanda reinvented himself in England. During the 1920s, he adopted the stage name Chief Luale and began working as an actor in London's prestigious West End. His career flourished as he performed alongside theatrical legends including John Gielgud and Hermione Baddeley, while also forming a friendship with the renowned black American singer and actor Paul Robeson.
The Butlin's Partnership and African Village
Chanda's life took another dramatic turn in 1927 when legendary showman Billy Butlin established his Central Amusement Park on the Skegness foreshore. Recognising an opportunity, Bulaya teamed up with Butlin to create the African Village attraction within the amusement park.
The African Village became a popular feature, offering visitors exotic entertainment that included native dancers, warriors, and a snake charmer. A contemporary local newspaper report captured the spectacle: "The Chief walks on glass and eats fire; there is a man-woman ('the world famous Jacob-Jacqueline') and all sorts of weird individuals therein without any extra charge."
During holiday seasons, Bulaya lived in Skegness with his wife May and young daughter Joan, renting rooms at the Lion Hotel, which now operates as Wetherspoons' Red Lion. His business acumen led to the formation of Luale Ltd, a partnership with May and Emily Osborne Parrott, the Lion's licensee. May served as the company's director and secretary, with the hotel functioning as the business address.
Tragic End and Lasting Legacy
According to Mrs Parrott's great-nephew, former Skegness Standard editor John Cowpe, his great-aunt acted as Bulaya's benefactor, purchasing him expensive clothes and a luxury car. However, Bulaya's rising fortunes were tragically cut short in 1935 when he was admitted to Skegness Cottage Hospital suffering from pneumonia.
Eleven weeks later, he died at a Louth sanatorium at just 34 to 40 years of age. His remarkable story might have been forgotten were it not for the efforts of historian Anne Samson, who has extensively researched his life with help from Bulaya's 95-year-old daughter, Joan Robson of Grimsby.
The resulting book, Bulaya Chanda: African 'Boy' to English 'Dandy', priced at £11.67, is now available online through https://tslbooks.uk/produce/bulaya-chanda-anne-samson or from the Great War in Africa Association at https://gweaa.com, ensuring this unique chapter of British social history is preserved for future generations.
