Ten years ago, the British Museum and BBC co-presented A History of the World in 100 Objects. However, the key exhibit never saw the light of day. Soul City Wanderer briefs.
Soul City Wanderer’s own book Soul City Wandering was released in 2020. Available in paperback or on Kindle, it encourages readers to rediscover their urban surroundings.
In 2010, the British Museum in conjunction with BBC Radio 4, launched a joint project entitled A History of the World in 100 Objects. The radio series was written and presented by British Museum director Neil MacGregor. In actual fact, the original project comprised 99 objects. MacGregor wanted to leave the last spot blank in order for it to be decided by a public vote.
There were five items that made it to the shortlist. One of them, and one of MacGregor’s favourites, was the football shirt of the Chelsea player Didier Drogba, which he wore when the club won the Premier League title that year.
Unfortunately, the public got the completely wrong end of the stick, and MacGregor was inundated with complaints from furious fans of other football teams who thought that their favourite player should have been nominated for this ‘honour’. The media, too, was none too impressed. In the end, the 100th object selected was a solar-powered lamp!
The justification behind Didier Drogba’s Chelsea shirt as a museum exhibit was quite considered when you think about its global nature (which the public obviously didn’t):
- Here was an item of clothing created for the most popular pastime in the world.
- It was designed by a German company.
- It was made in China.
- It was sponsored by a Korean electronics firm.
- It was worn by a man from the Ivory Coast in Africa, who grew up in France, and was now living in London.
- It symbolised a club which was managed by an Italian, administered by an American and owned by a Russian.
- It symbolised a club that had just been crowned champions of England.
- Finally… it was modern. It was ‘now’.
Was there ever an exhibit that could have encompassed a ‘world object’ to such a degree?
An opportunity lost.
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Soul City Wanderer’s own book Soul City Wandering was released in 2020. Available in paperback or on Kindle, it encourages readers to rediscover their urban surroundings.
“A great book… a great guide.
Robert Elms, BBC Radio London
Poems… music… history… and fantastic ways to… go for walks”
