Fatou Diallo

I came to London from Dakar as a teenager and settled near Portobello Road, where I have lived ever since and now guide most of my sessions. I run my Saturday sessions early, before the antiques stalls fill with shoppers, so the camera can actually show the goods being laid out rather than a crowd blocking the view. I also cover the Notting Hill Carnival route outside festival season, when the streets are quiet enough to explain the history properly. Ten years here has given me a fair sense of how the area has changed, and I try to be honest about both the good and the harder parts.