3-056-249 - The London Archives (City of London)/Heritage Images

The Bohee Brothers, late 19th century. Photograph of James and George Bohee from a poster advertising their performance at International Hall, Piccadilly Circus, London. The Bohees were Black banjo players born in Canada who lived in the USA and Britain. They set up 'The Bohee Operatic Minstrels', a company of 30 musicians, singers and dancers, and toured Britain in the 1880s. The brothers imported new, improved banjos from the USA, fuelling the increasing popularity of the banjo in the UK. This interest was widespread in the 19th century but was especially popular with upper-class society. The brothers even opened a banjo academy in London's West End, where they are said to have taught the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.