COMING SOON ON THE TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ SHOW – OUR INTERVIEW WITH AYAN DE FIRST. INFORMATION ABOUT AYAN DE FIRST CAN BE FOUND BELOW

ABOUT AYAN DE FRIST

Multi Award winner Ayan De First is a versatile performance and creative Visual Artist with over 30 years of active performance experience.

Ayan De First performs at festivals and concerts across Europe with his Cultural group. He has worked with over 500 private and community schools across in the UK, promoting African Cultural Heritage.

Ayan De First has performed for numerous personalities:
• Nigerian Presidents (Gen Abu Bakar & Olusegun Obasanjo;
• Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace during Golden Jubilee anniversary;
• HRH Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall at St James’s Palace;
• Many politicians, lead artists and captains of Industry e.g. Lord Mayor Of London,Jeremy Corbyn, the UK Opposition leader, MP Harriet Hamman, Peter Mandelson, Madonna, Sir Richard Branson, etc;
.
Ayan De First has appeared on all mainstream British Television channels e.g. credits include “Come Dine With Me on Channel 4”.

Ayan De First has featured in various British national and local newspapers.

Ayan De First’s theatre appearances include:

• Tickets and Ties,
• Makinde,
• Hamlet,
• The gods are not to blame,
• Iyalode of Eti
• Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives

t’s happening Live at Hilton Hotel, Waddon Way, Purley Way, Croydon CR9 4HH, on Friday 4th November 2022 ….

Be a part of history at the African Cultural Gala Night 2022, with Ayan de first – Mr Culture, as he presents top African performers to showcase Africa’s vibrant and rich cultural heritage with a variety of exotic and phenomenal performances.

It’s going to be a night every proud African, friends of the African community and lovers of our African culture will not forget in a hurry!!!

Tickets are running out fast! Don’t miss out!! Please get your ticket(s) today, following the link below

About this event

Cultural Entertainment by Performers from around Africa including Drummers; Dancers; Musicians; Jugglers and Acrobats.

There will be :

Red carpet

Food and drinks

Gift bags

Music and dance, dance, dance.

Organiser of African Cultural Gala Night

Multi Award winner Ayan De First is a versatile performance and creative Visual Artist with over 30 years of active performance experience.

Ayan De First performs at festivals and concerts across Europe with his Cultural group. He has worked with over 500 private and community schools across in the UK, promoting African Cultural Heritage.

Ayan De First has performed for numerous personalities:
• Nigerian Presidents (Gen Abu Bakar & Olusegun Obasanjo;
• Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace during Golden Jubilee anniversary;
• HRH Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall at St James’s Palace;
• Many politicians, lead artists and captains of Industry e.g. Lord Mayor Of London,Jeremy Corbyn, the UK Opposition leader, MP Harriet Hamman, Peter Mandelson, Madonna, Sir Richard Branson, etc;
.
Ayan De First has appeared on all mainstream British Television channels e.g. credits include “Come Dine With Me on Channel 4”.

Ayan De First has featured in various British national and local newspapers.

Ayan De First’s theatre appearances include:

• Tickets and Ties,
• Makinde,
• Hamlet,
• The gods are not to blame,
• Iyalode of Eti
• Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives

INFORMATION ABOUT MAUREEN ROWE CAN BE FOUND BELOW

A highly respected Mother, Friend to the many and a Professional Youth Worker.

Born in Jamaica but made her home here in Britain.

Maureen works as a Youth Worker and has done for 30+ years . She has had a massive impact of both young people and the community all her working and personal Life.

She is an advocate for raising education Standards amongst black young people , she worked ( voluntarily) as a support teacher with young people for many years on the African Caribbean Achievement Programme ( ACAP). This programme was run in various community Centre across the city, with excellent outcomes for young people.

She in her professional life worked as Youth and Community Worker for Bradford Youth Service (seconded to Checkpoint Bradford). She developed work around arts, social involvement and equality of opportunities for Black young people.

Due to reorganisations Maureen was Seconded to MAPA ( the oldest Black led organisation in Bradford 52 years). Where took up post as the Lead Worker for the organisation. She excelled and brought much needed resources, cultural experiences and pure commitment to the local community she served. This essential work kept black and minorities support networks alive.

Live all good things and often wrong decision a further restructure meant all support 3rd sector supported organisation stopped and they were left to run on their own. This led to closures of key Black provision along side other community centres. It was the commitment of MAPA trustees and members that kept it from closing.

Maureen moved to more generic work that often did not involve the support of the under resources black community. Nevertheless Maureen being her professional self-gave 100% of her input.

The latter is why so many people from far and wide loved and continue to love her input that often helped change/influence their lives for the good.

Maureen who has now retired( with a little casual work stops her going insane I guess) in local schools has left the following legacies

• Supported and Challenged inequality in Education systems for black young people . She continues to fight and support the raising of individual achievement of all young people

• She then became a trustee of MAPA for many years, supporting the development of work with Black young people and the community.

• She is a strong advocate in promoting equality and rights to access for Black women and continues to run sessions, raise awareness and open opportunities for Black people in the Business world.

Finally If I was to sum up Maureen that reflected her existence . I would ( and I am sure it is mirrored by everyone that she was involved with) say she was Tough , straight talking , understanding, empathetic and mostly loving and caring towards ALL people.

MR JERRY CRAWFORD ORIGINALLY FROM ST KITTS AND BASED IN BRADFORD, WEST YORKSHIRE, WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY SPEAKERS AT OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS TAKING PLACE THIS MONTH

Jerry Crawford was one of The Africa4u Award Winners at The Africa4u Awards for African and Caribbean Achievers living in West Yorkshire. (An event which took place early this year)

Information about Jerry can be found below

INFORMATION ABOUT JERRY CAN BE FOUND BELOW

Jerry Crawford  is a Community Worker/Activist, Event Organiser , Audio Engineer , Community Stars Winner, Change maker & Covid 19 Community Champion.

He helped set up Bradford’s 1st community recording studio running music projects for the social disadvantaged.

Over the years he has been involved in many community projects and worked in partnership with numerous organisations.

In 2020 he helped to organise peaceful protest for George Floyd.  

Collective Impact  also helps individuals, families or whole communities to bring about social change and improve the quality of life in our local area. They act as the link between communities and a range of other local authority and voluntary sector providers, such as the police, social workers and teachers.

Jerry Crawford AKA Red Dred who has been very instrumental in many music/media based projects and events. He has over thirty years of experience of Djing and organising events. 

Over the decades Jerry has provided entertainment at many functions weddings ,raves, house parties  christening, birthdays, community events,festivals and carnivals

Jerry is also a radio presenter which he has been doing for over 25 years. 

Jerry Crawford is one of the first pioneers to introduce house music to Bradford.

Jerry worked at Livestock Records Bradford’s 1st dance music record shop. He set up Bradford’s first acid house rave all nighter. In early 90s Jerry set up Reuben Sounds

Bradford’s 1st community recording studio at Bradford Community Arts where he started running music production and dj mixing courses. Over the decades he has worked with many organisations such as

Mapa

Xplosion

Bradford Council 

The Youth Services 

Bradford Festival 

Bradford Trident 

The Princes Trust 

SportsDev

Raise The Roof

BCB Radio 

Windrush Generations

and many more schools, community groups and charity organisations.

He is now working with Collective Impact a community organisation based at Mapa. 

#blackhistory #blacklivesmatters #cityofculture

BRADFORD BORN ANTHONY PELTIER WILL BE A KEY SPEAKER AT OUR BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATIONS DUE TO TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH.

INFORMATION ABOUT ANTHONY CAN BE FOUND BELOW

Born and raised in Buttershaw in the 1960’s, Anthony has returned to Bradford to be part of the change needed to prevent the knife crime epidemic, which continues to affect many cities across the United Kingdom.
Anthony is an accomplished Headteacher with 42 years experience in education with the last 20 years in school leadership.

Anthony has had four successful primary headships both in London and Birmingham. His Executive Headship of four secondary alternative provisions (PRUs) in Southeast London was the most challenging and rewarding. By building trust with disengaged young people and establishing collaborative working practices with statutory settings, Anthony created learning opportunities for some of Southwark’s permanently excluded young people who were at risk of crime and youth violence.

Anthony is an OFSTED-trained inspector, having achieved his NPQSI (National Professional Qualification for School Inspectors) in 2015. After receiving the Pride of Britain Award in 2002 for saving the life of a youth who had been stabbed in the heart, Anthony re-joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 2004. While policing the streets of London on evenings and weekends, he continued his work in education as a Headteacher because he believes working in these two integral public sector positions is the best place to work towards changing the mind-sets of young people.

Anthony is a Sociapreneur and change agent. As well as working to secure a cultural organisational change in all public sector and private sector organisations and institutions, Anthony uses his time to grow agents of change, young people who will develop the skills and attributes to influence and champion social change in their communities and networks. Anthony also continues to support Headteachers in his role as a School Improvement Advisor.

Anthony understands the plight of our black boys in schools. The achievement gap, the risk of Permanent exclusion, and the growing issues around mental health are all things he feels can be addressed through a collaborative working approach with parents, schools, pupils, and statutory agencies.

He believes people need to be honest about their responsibilities and be open to the fact that we cannot continue to lay all the blame on institutions and organisations for the failure of our black boys.

Anthony is the founder of Innovate for Growrh CIC, a social uplift company working towards creating change in our communities.

In 2020 when Anthony learned of Lynne Baird, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, and her work to have Bleed Control Kits in communities across the country, Anthony started his campaign to ensure all 32 London Councils had a Bleed Control strategy in place to support their communities. To date, 14 London councils have a Bleed Control Kit strategy in place.
Later that year while working with a secondary PRU, Anthony spoke with a group of young people about why they thought so many young people choose to carry knives. He was astounded by the ridiculous reasons they gave. Sadly Anthony has also spoken with young people who have been victims of knife violence and perpetrators of knife crime. He found that none of the young people
understood the implications of stabbing a human being. Their lack of understanding of the human body and the consequences of using a knife was clear.
The next youth change education program was born – Bleed Control Education. Anthony continues to seek funders to support this vital program for schools and young people across the country.

http://www.bst-services.co.uk/the-science
http://www.bst-seevices.co.uk/why-donate

BRADFORD BASED SINEAD CAMPBELL WILL BE A KEY SPEAKER AT OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS taking place this month .

INFORMATION ABOUT SINEAD CAN BE FOUND BELOW

Bradford’s Sinead Campbell is a singer-songwriter, creative producer and Music Instigator with Bradford Producing Hub. She supports the music scene within the district, curates music events and runs Bradford Buskival. 

She is a soul singer who delivers smooth RnB basslines & propulsive rhythms. She seeks to inspire confidence in others and stands for connectedness. She has shared the stage with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Aswad and Arrested development, has support from BBC Introducing amongst others and is just getting started. 

Mr Phillips Alayande will be performing at this months AFRICA4U BLACK HISTORY MONTHS CELEBRATION aimed at promoting the true life and success stories of African and Caribbean achievers.

Information about O Phils can be found below

INFORMATION ABOUT Phillips Alayande CAN BE FOUND BELOW

O.Phils is a Refugee Action volunteer and a member of Refugee Action Experts by Experience Group, BRAVE, who has been leading music sessions at the weekly welcome group and has written a song ; ‘FREE’. After singing it in the group, he had the vision to rehearse with other refugees and produce this amazing music video to bring hope to others and release it during Refugee Week 2022 with live performances at the Bradford Refugee Week Launch and Celebration event. The dream is now a reality. Thank you to all who made this possible.

All proceeds go to Refugee Action. https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/

Vincent Destouche (Mr MAPA)
Volunteer Community Worker/Caretaker-/School Dinner Attendant/Youth Worker Bradford
Youth Service)
Vinny is an amazing versatile person when it comes to his employment/community
engagement ( volunteering).
Vinny has worked (paid)/volunteered for MAPA for 35 years and he is often referred to as

MR MAPA.

History
Vinny was a user of our community centre and lived in the then Newby Sq. He has always
come across as a quite person and continues to have that persona. He often speaks about
his early childhood growing up in the Sq. and how it shaped his life and others.
MAPA General (1985-present)
Vinny was out of work when we met , he used to volunteer to help MAPA by cleaning, DIY,
Djing etc). in 1990 we offered him a contract as a Handy Person/Caretaker which continues
to carry out today.
Scout Group
In the late 90s Vinny helped set up a one of the first Black Scout Group in Bradford ( and
according to the Scouts Association we were the first Pack in the Country to have a Rasta
Scout Leader (Mickey. Roots) .
Afterschool Care
In 2000- 2010 He was appointed as a keyworker on the scheme and did this for 10 years
Summer Playschemes ( Volunteer)- (1990-2015)
This is and was Vinnies forte – he was at the top of his game when it came to entertaining
young people. Hi sessions on Rounders are legend. Nothing was too much for Vinny he
supported everyone.
Youth Worker MAPA/Bradford Youth Service (1995 to present)
Vinny has been involved with our youth session for over 25 year mainly at MAPA and also
across the city at different youth clubs.
Holiday/Household Food Programme ( 2018 – present)
Vinny has been a vital part of this programme supporting his local community (who are
suffering high poverty levels and lack of funds to meet their needs).

As you can see from the above Vinny has given 30+ years to MAPA. He has kept us going in
very difficult times, we would have certainly closed if in was not for Vinny (who often took
the helm every time MAPA was it a crisis be it Funding, Staffing etc) .
If we could bestow an award to him it would need to be recognised by a wider audience
other that local people, who love him and appreciate all he has done for MAPA.
MAPA is Vinny and Vinny is MAPA . That’s the way its been. He has been the constant from
the coming and goings over the years.
‘Who you gonna call VINNY’( caption from Ghost Busters).

#blackhistorymonth2022 #bradford #cityofculture2025 #livestream

Jabu Phiri will be receiving AN AFRICA4U AWARD in Bradford as part of The Black History Month Celebrations

Congratulations to Jabu in advance

INFORMATION ABOUT JABU CAN BE FOUND BELOW

I live in Bradford; I am a Bradford for Everyone Ambassador (resident voice and influence), I am  Citizen Coin Officer with Braford Council and I am an entrepreneur.

Being a Bradford Ambassador has enabled me to explore Bradford’s beauty and connect with people and organisations in a way that I wouldn’t have otherwise, in fact, that it how I came to join People’s Powerhouse -Racial Justice Network. In my time as an ambassador and as a People’s Powerhouse Racial Justice Advocate, I have developed a growing hunger for positive transformation, I strive to make Bradford, the UK and the world a better place.

I came to England many years ago from ‘the warm heart of Africa’ and I have lived in Bradford for over 17 years. 

I have immense passion for equality development in all its forms, racial justice being one.  In fact, recently, I have stumbled upon two words of which I think are key in any real change ” economic development”.  When these words are overlooked, manipulated for self-interest, and ignored, inequality happens, and the gap thereof widens.

As a community activist/ advocate and businesswoman, I do what I do because I want to see “economic development” applied fairly across society.  These two words go on to fuel me to create jobs for people who may otherwise not have one. I also want to empower people to have a voice, to speak, to be heard to act positively on their experiences. I want people to tune into existing programmes and positive interventions, to create new ones, to gain knowledge, to get involved to connect with other people who also crave for change.  I want us all, regardless of who we are and where we come from to be free, like Martin Luther Jr said, “No one if free until we are all free”.

Jabu Phiri

THE INSIDE VIEW TALK SHOW hosted by Nana Abena Hagan will be receiving an Africa4u Award in Bradford as part of Black History Month Celebrations

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSIDE VIEW TALK SHOW can be found below

This amazing online talk show is hosted by Bradford based Nana Abena Hagan who is originally from Ghana.

This show is all about sharing the successes, losses and true struggles of people to embrace all things possible.

Guests on the show are from different sectors and backgrounds in life.

For more information contact =447931529090

#cityofculture2025 #blackhistorymonth2022 #theinsideview