MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER, AUTHOR,, CORPORATE MC, MENTOR, PROMOTER & AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE -UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION. WE PROMOTE THE SUCCESS STORIES OF AFRICANS & CARIBBEANS AROUND THE WORLD. CONTACT US NOW ON +447882809005
WINDRUSH GENERATIONS CARNIVAL OF CULTURE will be taking place at The Centenary Square Bradford, BD1 1 HY on Friday the 16th of June 2023 from 4pm to 10pm and on Saturday the 17th of June 2023 from 12noon to 10pm.
Come and be part of this special 2 day Windrush Celebrations in the heart of The UK City of Culture 2025, featuring the very best of LIVE BANDS with local and International artists on stage , the very best of cuisines and an amazing two day festivity for the whole family .
GET YOUR FREE TICKETS TODAY FOR OUR AFRICA4U AWARDS FOR OUR AFRICANS AND CARIBBEANS LIVING IN WEST YORKSHIRE taking place on FRIDAY THE 12TH OF MAY 2023 (5PM) at The City Library in Bradford West Yorkshire.
We are pleased to inform you that FREE TICKETS are now available for Our AFRICA4U AWARDS FOR AFRICANS AND CARIBBEANS LIVING IN WEST YORKSHIRE taking place on FRIDAY THE 12TH OF MAY 2023 (5PM) at The City Library in Bradford West Yorkshire.
Come and be part of an amazing celebration of Inspiration talks, African & Caribbean history , performances , networking, free refreshments and award Recognitions of community heroes making a difference every day .
KEY SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Ismael Lea South– DIRECTOR OF THE SALAM PROJECT – BASED IN MANCHESTER
Linda Johnson — PAN AFRICAN COMMUNITY ADVOCATE – BASED IN HUDDERSFIELD
All roads led to the prestigious premises of West Yorkshire Lieutenancy office , Bowcliffe Hall, Branham, Wetherby on Wednesday the 29th March 2023 for the well attended Kings Award for Voluntary service nomination annual event in the heart of Yorkshire.
In attendance were some amazing organisations from different parts of West Yorkshire who took the opportunity to attend, network , engage and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
Also in attendance was the award winning Bradford based organisation BRADFORD 4 BETTER , led by Vice Chairman, Mr Shahid Islam, (also a Senior Research Fellow, employed by The Bradford Institute for Health Research), Mr Kashif Ahmed – The Secretary for Bradford 4 Better Organisation (A passionate Tech entrepreneur with a vision to make a difference) and Tony Tokunbo Fernandez – Digital Marketing Coordinator for Bradford 4 Better (also an award winning community advocate and a Published writer of four books)
Only last year , BRADFORD 4 BETTER ORGANISATION was A Winner at The National Diversity Awards held in Liverpool.
Winners of the Kings Awards for voluntary service will be announced later on in the year.
#bradford #bradford4better #cityofculture2025 #kingsaward #queensaward #shahid islam
The Jamaican poet Christena Williams, better known by her stage name of Antonia Valaire was a Nominee in the 39 th International Reggae and World Music Awards in the Category of Mutabaruka Best Poet/Spoken word. She is a native from Portmore, St. Catherine, and A graduate of Spanish Town High school.
She has won a Certificate of Excellence Sarabita Masters Award for 2020 from Ah TimesRas founded by dub poet Ras Atiba in New York, USA.
Prior to this award, Valaire had already been named the International Spoken Word Artist of the Year for 2020 by the People of Extraordinary Talent (P.O.E.T) organization and Blaq Ice Productions in Chicago, USA, for which she retained in 2021.
As a podcaster of The Verandah Conversations which was nominated in the Category: Best radio, TV or online show, by the People of Extraordinary Talent (P.O.E.T), 2022.
Valaire has a BA degree with honors in History and Philosophy from the University of the West Indies.
Her book “Pearls among Stones” received the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture. She is also the author of “Black Gold” and “Out from Babylon System: Liberation of Mind.” Additionally, she released her Black Gold EP (Spoken Word) via her YouTube channel. She received a Major Art award from the Jamaican Youth Empowerment through Culture, Arts and Nationalism (JAYECAN) organization.
In addition to writing, Valaire is a featured performer on the Jamaican Poets School Tour in association with veteran Dub Poet Malachi Smith, Featured Performer in The Jamaica Poetry Festival organized by Legendary and award -wining Dub Poet Yasus Afari, She has worked asthe Project Coordinator for the Manifesto JA music mentorship at Tuff Gong Studio; an assistant Instructor to veteran dub poet and 2019 IRAWMA Winner Cherry Natural and former Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison in “All Flowers Are Roses” program at the National Library of Jamaica; and the Ras Takura Road to West Africa Panafest Ghana Fundraiser Dub Poetry showcase.
She has performed at the DisPoem Festival Wordz and Agro festival, Kingston Night Market, Calabash open mic at Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth, and was a Special guest featured on Poemagikal Verbal Medicine, Featured in Bridgewater International Poetry festival virtual edition USA, featured in Kingston Creative virtual Art Walk, Life Circle Poets Poetry Sunday, Dis Poem Wordz agro festival meets Malcolm X sol Food + Music festival, video submission to Ronda Leiria Poetry festival In Portugal, Video submission to The Art Bar Poetry series, Featured interview on The Real stuff Podcast, Its Peak Poetry radio in UK with host Zed Regal, Poet life podcast with host Christoph Jenkins,USA, Youth summit on crime and violence, United Nations Development Programme, Jamaica.
Her Poems and Interviews have been featured for The Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer newspapers, and Featured Guest on TVJ’s All Angles with Dionne Jackson- Miller; she was also a Featured Guest on CVM’s On the Road to Success with Yanique DaCosta and a Featured Guest for performance and interview on CVM at Sunrise with Raymond Pryce and Amashika Lorne. She has done radio Interviews with Host Elise Kelly, Roots FM Habakkuk, Campus Buss Interview with Daron Chosen Smith, featured in Random Poem Tree (T&T), Female First magazine in the United Kingdom, Poetry NZ 47 (New Zealand), L3 magazine, and was shortlisted in jaBlog! Junior Authors Poetry Contest. She was also shortlisted in at the Desmond O’Grady poetry competition (Ireland) and featured in Antologia Poetica (Fragua de Preces), Spanish edition by Abra Cultural, 2020.
Her first translated poem, Punishable by death was featured in Persian Sugar in English Tea, Vol III, NY, Featured interview in 40th issue of The Sailors Review in Zimbabwe, Corona Social Distancing the Anthology by Inner Child Press in the US, and her poem Matches shoes box was included in the Miss Lou 100 +Voices anthology in Jamaica. Her poem, Stone cold sinner was a finalist in the Hessler Street Fair Poetry Anthology in Cleveland, Ohio. She had a featured excerpt of the poem Youth of Today quoted during the Address by His Excellency The Most. Hon. Sir Patrick Allen for the Investiture Ceremony of Poet Laureate Miss Lorna Goodison, CD on May 17, 2017.
Antonia Valaire describes herself as a Follower of Christ, Youth volunteer, Historian, Philosopher, Podcaster, Youth leader, Spoken word artiste and performer and self-Publisher in addition to being an Author and a Poet. She cites Louise Bennett and Mutabaraka as her inspirations and expressed gratitude to the veteran poets who have gone before her. Some of her early favorite poets are Olive Senior, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and William Wordsworth, in addition to Jamaican and West Indian poets.
Additionally, “According to Glenville Ashby, PhD, Book Reviewer and Gleaner Columnist, he states,” No doubt, … Williams has sealed her place as one of the region’s most compelling artistic voices”. Her social media links can be accessed via: @Antoniavalaire | Linktree
ROLE MODEL OF THE WEEK, 89 YEAR OLD JAMIAICAN PIONEER BASED IN HUDDERSFIELD – ARTNEL JOHNSON. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM
THE AMAZING 89 YEAR OLD JAMAICAN PIONEER, ARTNEL JOHNSON BASED IN HUDDERSFIELD WILL BE RECEIVING AN AFRICA4U AWARD AT THE CITY LIBRARY IN BRADFORD ON FRIDAY THE 12TH OF MAY AT 5PM,
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AMAZING ELDER CAN BE FOUND BELOW
Background Born in Rose Hall of St Elizabeth parish Jamaica on 26 th February 1934 from a poor family of 13 children. Despite poverty he excelled in education in Jamaica reaching the equivalent of university Diploma level by UK standards.
Part of the pioneering Windrush generation Artnel moved to Huddersfield 1959 seeking like many a better life and more opportunities followed by his wife in 1961. He met racism and discrimination when seeking work in more skilled profession and work for many years as a bus driver until he started his own business in 1977 sharing a vehicle with a Nigerian friend.
Artnel a lover of education befriended and helped to bridge the relationships between continental Africans who were often students from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and other newly independent countries in the 60 & 70’s many of which lodge in Artnel own home. He was to make connections, friendships and alliances which set him apart as having a greater understanding and love of Africa than his Caribbean peers. Artnel ran support surgeries from his front room providing free writing letter, teaching and coaching to support other immigrants from the Caribbean helping them to navigate a racially discriminatory system.
Married with 8 children but was a father figure and uncle to countless others. He has 27 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild which in itself is a legacy on own right. Artnel has been a central unassuming, dependable, upright, humble and pillars of the community not only in Huddersfield but also in Jamacia where you enjoyed the first 20 years of his retirement before returning to England 3 years ago to be closer to his family. Achievements
One of first business owners and treasurer of popular night club known locally as “Venn Street” which attracted the top reggae superstars from Jamaica such as John Holt, Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson Gregory Issacs and many more placing Huddersfield on the map as a top nightlife hotspot in the North of England
First Caribbean driving instructor in Huddersfield and travel agent
Community Leader serving on many Community Voluntary boards including Police advisory boards at the height of the 80’s riots, Hudawi, Jamaica Nation Committee and Beaumont Street Studio’s of which he was the founding Director.
He is one of the black First Magistrates in Kirklees serving on the bench for over 25 years
A committed Christian he served as a deacon of his local church for many years
Interests Artnel has had many interests over the years including photography building his own dark room in the basement of his home.
Artnel is a keen debater on anything to do with global history and politics and is certainly not backward in voicing his opinions even if he had to stand alone.
He brewed homemade beer although ironically, he has never drunk alcohol himself. Artnel is a vibrant and energetic man singing in the church choir and listening and to his favourite artist Fats Domino to which he can still rock and roll to on the dance floor or living room floor when the vibe and rhythm takes hold of him.
He enjoys spending time with his wonderful and very large family. In his retirement Artnel has become a keen gardener planting fruit and vegetables for the family to enjoy. Artnel believes in hard work and education is the key to success and complaining is a fruitless obstacle to progress.
Today, I joined 60+ charities to hand in 76k signed petition to No 10 Downing Street, to demand government take action on cancer crisis, patients are wait too long, health care professionals are leaving. Too many cancer patients are dying due to unnecessary delays!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROGER OKEWOLE – FOUNDER OF 9JA POP ART BASED IN NEW JERSEY . We wish him a very happy birthday filled with inner peace and prosperity
INFORMATION ABOUT ROGER CAN BE FOUND BELOW
I am Roger Okewole and 9ja Pop Art is a peek into my imagination!
INSPIRATIONS: More than Dali, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein is my main artistic inspiration. I couldn’t have been older than eight when Mom was showing me Lichtenstein’s works in World Book Encyclopedia.
BEGINNINGS: My parents bought a few of those thick coffee table art books with photos of the great paintings by Old Masters, alongside Greek and Roman sculptures. I was studying anatomy and perspective from those books from a very early age. My folks also bought me every age-appropriate comic book they could find, which truly unlocked my imagination.
I first exhibited in a gallery when I was about 11 years old. I was designing costumes and banners for carnivals in Nigeria when I was in my early teens. I was 16 when I got my first graphics job with an advertising agency in Lagos.
I worked as a graphic artist while at college in Nigeria and the USA. I did all this without a single day in art school. My folks insisted I follow the “responsible eldest son” path and I got a Civil Engineering degree and an MBA.
Then things changed…After about a 10-year hiatus spent climbing the corporate ladder, I formed 9ja Pop Art to bring my artistic side back to life.
MEDIA: I mostly use pencils, inks, watercolor pencils and computer graphics; I like to mix it up and my creative impulses tend to go in very different directions. The only thing I never do is photobashing
I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I have!!!
My art business has been designated as a “Trusted Art Seller” with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.
COMING SOON ON THE TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ SHOW , WE INTERVIEW URFAN FAQIR, – PROJECT LEADER FOR GRADUATE WORKFORCE BRADFORD PROJECT BASED WITHIN CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY SERIVES AS WE PROMOTE THE UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
INFORMATION ABOUT HIM CAN CAN BE FOUND BELOW
Urfan is the Project Leader for the Graduate Workforce Bradford Project based within Career and Employability Services. The project aims to improve the prospects and career destinations for ethnic minority students and graduates. Previously he has worked with young people in school and colleges supporting them with work experience, job opportunities and apprenticeships. Urfan also has experience of working in the executive recruitment industry as a head-hunter specialising in management consulting.
He has not always worked in education and employability. Urfan has a passion for music, especially house music. He spent a number of years DJing in London around Brick Lane and Shoreditch. He could be seen at his residency at The Lane Bar or playing occasional spots at now closed Turnmills or The Rhythm Factory.
Urfan spent time living in Pakistan as a child. He has fond memories of the village and enjoyed the open living experience. Watching his grandmother cook on an open fire. Eating home grown vegetables and fruits from the crop fields and sleeping under the stars.
TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ 