Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prominent Afro-British composer and conductor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in London in 1875 to an English mother and a Sierra Leonean father. Coleridge-Taylor was a child prodigy who showed exceptional musical talent at a young age.

He gained international acclaim for his compositions, which often incorporated elements of African and African American folk music, spirituals, and other influences. His most famous work is the cantata "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," based on the poem "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Coleridge-Taylor faced discrimination and racial prejudice throughout his life, but he persisted in his musical pursuits and helped pave the way for future generations of Black classical composers. He was a prominent figure in the Pan-African movement and used his platform to advocate for racial equality and social justice.

Despite his untimely death in 1912 at the age of 37, Coleridge-Taylor left behind a legacy of pioneering work that continues to inspire and influence musicians today.