History Repeats Itself 

It is said history repeats itself 

But you must not have heard this when you came exploring 

Spurred by your curiosity for how can a whole people, a whole continent survive without paying you no attention 

No attention at all

Yet you considered yourself as the greatest, the mightiest that all must pay homage to 

In this way

This people, this continent is dark 

For there must be something so grand hidden within 

But too too grand that they can afford to be oblivious of your existence and your worth 

So you went, to seek and see what must be hidden 

And you saw 

You saw strength in men and women like no other 

And wealth, oh what wealth 

From the land, under it and above it 

And the sea, in it and round it 

But you also saw intelligence the use of appropriate technology in everything 

Everything, even things you are yet to discover 

So again you label the people, the continent as dark for it is yet to make sense 

And even when it began to make sense you still label it as less than and unfit for purpose 

Yet you replicate and enhance making it look a less like what it was and call it white 

For white is light you say 

But you took this dark people and forcibly too

To what should have been a light country all bright 

Ooh but what blight it was for these dark people 

For you saw in them free labour to build your nations 

Their strength now their curse 

And those not strong enough were left to die or thrown over board 

Others will be the ones to throw themselves because they preferred death to leaving their homes and going asunder 

The ones that finally make it to yours 

Will build your nations, with their blood, sweat and tears 

In their every waking moment and in their nightly terrors 

Once you felt their work was done 

You left them for death and closed your doors 

Doors barricaded up high with sharp broken glasses, razor wired and electric fences guarded by bull dogs with fangs like the reaper

Your homes are now too bright for the dark people 

Hmmm History Repeats itself, they say 

So now they come 

Asking for a piece 

But unlike you, they come in peace 

So don’t be scared 

They only come because you have left their homes barren 

And the grounds need to be watered and the gods appeased for their sons and daughters taken 

Some like the Kuntas with no permission and given a mission of misery, a life sentence of misery 

Do not be scared

They come in peace

Ready to work at will for every piece 

Just give them their dues and they will pay theirs too 

So even if now you hear history repeats itself 

It now provides opportunity to make right the wrong 

Some wrong too grave to mend 

But acknowledgement of wrong and remorse goes a long way in the hearts of those wronged

And yonder might hearts soften to forgive even if minds might never forget 

But alliances can be forged for a greater tomorrow for all 

For with all together as one the world is a better place for it 

For the generations after us and 

The ones yet unborn

To be better and do better 

For history repeats itself

and to live in peace Is to let live!

©️NjaayMbogeyourStoryTellingPoet

13/04/22

Rising Tenderly 

Speech and stillness pierce me like arrows 

In sorrow and in harrow

I retreated into a quiet hollow

Numbness, like under anaesthesia 

A faded fog, akin to amnesia 

Destroyed like shattered pieces of glass 

Fragile heart, fractured past

May the pieces be put together with precision; 

A flood of countless incisions 

Rising, rising, rising 

Phoenix has arisen 

Fragile no longer, yet tender 

Held by the Strong, I will never surrender!

FARHANA PANDOR

Today is my birthday.

I am not just celebrating a new age; I am celebrating growth.

The pains, the quiet battles, the risks no one saw and the discipline I chose even when motivation was low.

This past year stretched me, it humbled me and it strengthened me.

I have learned that growth is not always loud. Sometimes it happens in silence when you decide not to quit. When you keep showing up. When you choose progress over excuses. In some seasons, progress can be defined as not giving up.

There were days I questioned myself and days I felt uncertain but I kept going.

I am learning that leadership is not about noise; it is about responsibility. It is about impact. It is about becoming better than you were yesterday.

As I step into this new year I am choosing clarity. I am choosing courage and I am choosing consistency.

I am not trying to compete with anyone. I am building my own path at my own pace.

If you are in a season where it feels slow or unnoticed, keep going. Growth is happening even when it does not feel dramatic or obvious to your physical eyes.

I am grateful for life

I am grateful for lessons

I am grateful for the journey ahead

I am grateful to my family

I am most grateful to God Almighty for His Mercy and Grace.

This is only the beginning.

I pray for Divine direction and Divine positioning.

I enjoy the gift of men as well as gifts from men. Modeling gigs can start coming as well!

#BirthdayReflection#Growth#Leadership#KeepGoing#Forbesblk

Personal Message of Condolence

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. His death feels personal to me, because I had the honour and privilege of spending time with him when he visited Bradford with the Rainbow Coalition.

Hosting Reverend Jackson here in our city was a moment I will always treasure. He took time to meet with members of the African and Caribbean community, listening carefully, encouraging us, and affirming the importance of our collective struggle and shared humanity. Later, when he addressed the audience at Bradford Cathedral, his presence filled the space—not just with words, but with purpose, conviction, and hope.

What struck me most about Reverend Jackson was how he spoke directly to our responsibilities, not just our rights. One simple question he asked has stayed with me ever since: “Do you know your children’s teacher?” It landed deeply. In that moment, he challenged us—especially as Black parents and as Black men—to be more present in our children’s education, to support them, guide them, and take ownership of their future. It wasn’t said in judgement, but in love and expectation, and it changed the way I think about community responsibility.

Reverend Jesse Jackson was a real inspiration to me. He embodied what it means to bring people together across communities, cultures, and countries, while never losing sight of the everyday realities facing our families. His visit to Bradford reminded us that our local struggles are connected to a global movement for justice and dignity.

I am grateful to have met him, to have learned from him, and to carry forward the lessons he shared. His voice may now be silent, but his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the seeds he planted in all of us.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Rainbow Coalition, and all those around the world who are mourning his loss. May he rest in peace and power.

Bradford based Charles Dacres

Working together for fairer care at the end of life for ethnic minority communities

Attention: Bradford African-Caribbean community

What are we trying to do?

We are doing a research study to develop ways to tackle unfairness such as racism in the care provided at the end of life faced by ethnic minority communities.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people who have experience of supporting someone at the end of life, live in, and are from the Bradford African-Caribbean communities and have an interest in addressing unfairness at the end of life.

What does it involve?

You can take part in a series of four, relaxed and friendly workshops with other members of your community. We will talk about what and who matters most at the end of life, experiences of unfair treatment and how to improve things.

You will be paid £20 per hour for attending the workshops. Travel costs will be covered up to £10 per visit each way.

Where will the workshops take place?

Mary Seacole Court

89 Park Road

Bradford

BD5 0SW

Dates

23rd February – Workshop 1

2nd March – Workshop 2

9th March – Workshop 3

23rd March – Workshop 4

Time: 11.00-1.00pm

Please contact:

• Sandra Brown, Email:sandra@blackhealthforum.org.uk

Phone: 07949869497

• Jamilla Hussain

Email: jamilla.hussain@bthft.nhs.uk

• Zuneera Khurshid

Email: zuneera.khurshid@bthft.nhs.uk

Cometh back to My Lover – ‘Ophelia’

Hellbent on revenge – Hellishly tendersome was his affection

Lovers… blooming like the petals on a primrose in the summer

Similarly, in fashion – Destined to haveth – 

Pressed my imprints on our fabrics; lacing us into an endless paradise – did you forget?

Moonlit movements… likening us to lovebirds without a nest.

Arms wrapped in unspoken wonderment – outstretched to Heavens (above)

An understatement when I professed Our love for Him

Brothers? MY lover, the angels never denied our entrance…

Spent by the hours in hopeful, honest agony..you are preciously petulant.

All of Gods Commandments… cometh back to me…swirling softly…leaves

from a tree… cometh to me…

letters 

rebuked,

removing advancements; 

I swim in lost chances

Cannot hope – doth eyes not see that I am shattering, 

shivering whilst chattering

Cometh back to My Lover – My Angel, Gods Savior…

Flourishing with the nourishment of the watered down dirt.

Faultless yet guilty – ‘A womans touch’ – All given to Thee

Bloodied frenzy – could not tempt me to choose

Brothers feud…

Agony…Laughing hysterically …

Loving Him was my Only

God Please Taketh Me

Bolouebi Solomon – Writer of All of Us

Bolouebi Solomon is an Anglo-Nigerian writer who approaches writing as an act of exploration—an act of self-discovery and quiet excavation. Raised in Nigeria and shaped by her early adulthood in England, she writes at the intersection of memory, migration, culture, and identity. Influenced by Ijaw heritage, the cosmopolitan rhythm of Port Harcourt, pidgin English, and later the textures of British English, her voice carries layered histories and shifting identities 

Her debut memoir, All of Us, grew from poetry—rooted in curiosity, reflection, and the courage to speak what was once unspoken. Writing for her is not performance; it is revelation.

About All of Us

One life. One girl. Many women. Many mothers.

All of Us is a legacy memoir that follows a girl separated from her mother at an early age, moving between homes and relatives, learning survival long before childhood is meant to end. Raised within communal living and scarcity, she navigates instability, faith, autonomy, and difficult choices that ripple through family and culture.

At its heart, the book explores what it means to grow up where resources are fragile, belief systems are powerful, and resilience becomes a way of life. It examines poverty, communal warmth and wounds, religion, identity, and the quiet strength of women who hold families together in impossible conditions 

“This is not just my story. It is the story of all of us who survived.”

Pre-Book Launch Event – 2 May

On 2 May, Bolouebi will host a pre-book launch and collaborative storytelling event at Holmfirth Civic Hall (1 pm–6 pm). The event will centre on conversation around All of Us and will feature other creatives and storytellers, creating a shared space for reflection, memory, and dialogue.

This gathering is more than a book launch—it is an invitation into community. A chance to explore uncomfortable conversations, shared histories, and the power of story to connect us across generations and geographies.

Ticket Options

• Community Pass (£5) – Entry to the event to mingle and be part of the atmosphere (does not include food or book).

• Friends & Readers Pass – Includes food and an advance copy of All of Us.

• Online Pass (Free) – Includes online access 

Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite (link available through Bolouebi social platforms).

Connect & Follow

To follow the journey, book tickets, and explore more of Bolouebi’s writing and poetry, visit:

https://linktr.ee/bolouebisolomon

Dragon is what I am 

I can be pretty calm

The flame in me can fester 

Let’s not put it to a tester

My emotions can be intense 

So I guard them with a fence

Dragon is what I am 

The fence won’t hold for long 

The fire is burning

I am still learning

Dragon is what I am 

The fire expands; I take my stand 

With strength and wisdom 

I could lead a kingdom 

Dragon is what I am 

Yet I am a woman

About Reuben Sounds
Purpose: Founded in 1991 by Jerry Crawford, who has been very influential on Bradford’s music scene. He is probably Bradford’s longest serving event organiser. From working at Livestock Records to Organising Bradford’s first acid house all nighter along with Bradford’s first jungle/drum n bass and UK garage events.  The studio was a non-profit venture designed to provide valuable recording studio access to disadvantaged local musicians. Mission: It aimed to serve marginalized groups, such as low-paid and unemployed young people, mainly for members of the Black and Asian communities, offering them a chance to record music and learn about studio techniques. Significance: The studio was created to fill a gap in local facilities, providing an essential resource for aspiring musicians who lacked access to professional equipment and training. 

Reuben Sounds Recordings: A 25-Year Comeback
After a three-decade hiatus from the music recording scene, Reuben Sounds Recordings is making a triumphant return, not only to capture the sound of a new generation but also to offer a suite of music production training events.

As a community music training and events organization, our core aims are centered on enriching community life through the universal language of music and sound. Our plans are action-oriented, designed to make music accessible, educational, and unifying for everyone in our local area.
Reuben Sounds:

We will provide inclusive platforms that bring diverse community members together, breaking down social barriers and building stronger neighborhood ties through shared musical experiences.

Reuben Sounds events, making a comeback after 30 years, will be collaborating with this generation to organise events of all genres of music and will also be connecting with local grassroots artists and DJs

Our aim for 2026 is to organise as many events possible all genres. We will be collaborating with as many artists, organisations to continuing spreading racial harmony through music 

ABOUT MICHAEL

Mr Michael Ekpechue- The Director of Adanian Labs

Michael Ekpechue is a prominent figure involved with the Greater Manchester Black Tech Expo, often speaking at or promoting their events, like the recent “AI For All” session in November 2025, focusing on inclusive tech and People Data Infrastructure (PDI) for the community, as seen in his LinkedIn posts. He’s actively championing tech access and innovation for creators, students, and businesses in the region, partnering with organizations like Adanian Labs and MMU.