The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 9
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DECEMBER 2017
The ghanaian artist with a passion for education /streetcredmagazine
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Page 10 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
ENTERTAINMENT
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TV - Online - MAGAZINE /markdwaynemusic
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Editors note
I
had probably the most exciting and educational weekend ever in my life courtesy of the Phoenix Newspaper. I witnessed the company bring over a traditional king from Nigeria and organize a massive state visit comprising of Birmingham City University, Nehemiah Housing, Birmingham City Council and of course the main event which he came for - the Phoenix Newspaper 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation at the ICC. Seeing a King with his kings was a powerful sight and knowing that there are kings and queens of
today from Africa and being able to actually meet one was something else. To my surprise I actually won the Musical Dedication award at the Phoenix 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards, where I was nominated amongst legends Steel Pulse, UB40, Shayal Patel, Winston Mexican, and Apache Indian. I was totally overwhelmed and felt appreciated for the first time about my existence. Meeting a king was an eye opener for me and I learnt things that I didn’t know which was important. What I will say is don’t underestimate yourself, know your
worth and fly. This is the way I feel right now and its how we should all feel.
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STEEL BANGLES GOING ON BAD!!!!
B
ad stands as Steel Banglez’ second solo single following the release of his hit ‘Money’which came out earlier this year and stood as a ferocious statement of intent for what’s to come. "'Bad’ is a track produced by me and my brother Zeph Ellis. I had a vision to bring together the most successful and unique artists of 2017 on one track. “It was great to see such energy and I’m very grateful to all of them, especially Mo Stack for blessing me again with such a great chorus. “This is a club banger for the mandem to play for the gal dem
and a track for the ladies to vibe to with each other. ‘Bad’ is a perfect scenario of a woman who’s part of the gang and is down for the team,"explains Steel Banglez. The singles follows on fromSteel Banglez’s production work for the likes of Mist, Krept and Konan, Rudimental and more. Most recently, Banglez worked his magic onDave and MoStack’s hit single ‘No Words’ which charted in the UK Top 40 and stands as a testimony to Steel Banglez’s potential to storm the UK charts. ‘Bad’is a perfect reflection of the exciting time in Banglez’s career. The feel good track features verses from some of the UK’s
hottest talents such as Yungen, MoStack, Not3s and Mr Eazi. Each artist brings their signature but unique style to the track over a classic, melodic Steel Banglezbeat. “I’m heading to a place where I’m perfecting my sound. It’s gonna go global and I’m gonna create a lot of hit records. I can feel it. And I’m going to be one of the most in-demand producers that people want to get in the studio and it’ll go for a long time. And then I’ll just retire: become a philanthropist, get the f*ck out of here, and go live in my treehouse,” he speaks.
Kourtney Killing it!
Kourtney is looking fabulous in her new clothing shoot for Pretty Young Thing available a all top stores!
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 11
ENTERTAINMENT
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BIGScreen
F
uelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes, it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions. Oh, DC. How can you consistently deliver such high-quality comic books and animated features while struggling to deliver a high-calibre live-action epic? The groundwork is already there. The money is already there. The talent, both on and off screen, is already there. So, what the hell is going on? Man of Steel was a strong start. Things got a little shaky with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it was still pretty solid, only for things to get shakier still with the frustratingly bad Suicide Squad. But guess what happened next? Wonder Woman rode in like a freight-train that appeared to breathe some much needed life in to the already flagging DCEU. It was a huge step forward for the franchise and filled fans the world over with hope for the future. Unfortunately, after such a fantastic solo outing for Wonder Woman, Justice League is a big step back for the DCEU. Plagued by behind-the-scenes issues, it’s not difficult to see why Justice League has so many glaring issues. It simultaneously feels like a film that has far too much going on, while nothing really happens. It’s a film comprised of jarring tonal shifts, action scenes that
BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY
December 08 Catapult Club feat. Sketch 08 Propaganda - Slaves (DJ Set) 09 Ryders Creed 09 The Darkness 09 The Smyths: More Songs That Saved Your Life Tour 10 Kodaline 11 Normandie & William Ryan Key (Yellowcard) 12 Dirty Thrills 15 Catapult Club ft. La Dharma 15 Shed Seven 15 Propaganda - Official Shed Seven Aftershow DJ Set with Lead Singer Rick Witter 16 [spunge] 17 Extreme 23 The Twang 29 Propaganda 31 Propaganda Prohibition NYE
O2 INSTITUTE
December 07 Lotto Boyzz 07 Cadet 08 JP Cooper
review
wORDS by antony brown
Justice League have been haphazardly slapped together and some surprisingly subpar CGI, considering the final production budget for the film, including reshoots, tipped the scales at a whopping $300 million. No single person is to blame for the issues in Justice League; it’s simply the unfortunate and inevitable outcome of a production that seemed doomed from the very beginning due to a lack of forward-thinking. Up until this point, it honestly feels like Warner Bros have just been making it up as they go along, instead of formulating a clear and concise plan for their franchise. It’s as if a bunch of executives sat in an office after every movie and said “okay, we made some money...what shall we do next?” and it really shows. However, despite the many, many issues Justice League has, it is still a relatively entertaining movie, at least for the most part and a lot of its successes can be credited to its cast, who are all fantastic. Ben Affleck returns as the
08 Nothing More 08 Black Parade – 00’s Emo Anthems 09 Bayside 09 LANY 09 Highgrade feat. DJ Guv, Eksman, Herbzie & Total Recall 12 Wretch 32 15 Jaykae 15 Red Jumpsuit Apparatus 16 Grafton Ash 16 Hoodie Allen 19 The Shades 21 Nathan Dawe 0121 LIVE 31 NYE 2017 with Charlie Sloth / Trevor Nelson and Friends
NEC
December 01-23 Manhattan | Birmingham Christmas Party 08-17 The Beast – The World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle! 09-10 Ladies Kennel Association 14 Jewson Live
Caped Crusader, accompanied by his epic chin-dimple, and while he has lost the edge that made him a standout character in Batman v Superman, it’s in service of a logical character development so it’s difficult to be annoyed. The exquisite-in-every-way Gal Gadot is back as Diana Prince/ Wonder Woman and continues to be the most badass character the DCEU has introduced thus far. She’s fun, she’s powerful, she’s charismatic and she’s an excellent leader. Ray Fisher joins the cast as Victor Stone/Cyborg who is nowhere near as boring as the trailers would have you believe. He’s actually a solid addition to the cast and there are several moments where he really gets to shine. The bearded, long-haired, most manly man in the world (also known as Jason Momoa) also steps up to the plate as the most badass version of Arthur Curry/ Aquaman you’ve ever seen, complete with bulging muscles and a total surfer-dude attitude, which is a lot of fun.
Then, of course, there is Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, who will definitely go down as a fan-favourite here for his quirky performance and excellent comedic timing. Although, at times the comedy is very hit-and-miss, but that’s definitely more of a script issue, not a Miller issue. He’s a lot of fun whenever he’s on screen and they all have fantastic chemistry so, if nothing else, Justice League succeeds at bringing together a team of likeable heroes for us to root for. So, the heroes are good...but what about the villain, you ask? To be honest, the less said about Steppenwolf, the better. He’s the very definition of a dull, generic villain whose motivation never extends past “I want to destroy the world”. He’s a largely forgettable badguy that nobody will be talking about a few weeks from now, who has been rendered in CGI that, at times, makes him look like he’s been ripped straight from a video game. It’s very jarring, especially
ARENA BIRMINGHAM
In Progress (TH) 09 Christmas With The Overtones (SH) 10 Christmas With The Salvation Army 2017 (SH) 12 Robert Plant plus special guest Seth Lakeman (SH) 13-14 Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra (SH) 16 Roy Wood’s ROCKMAS 2017 (SH) 17 Christmas With Katherine Jenkins (SH) 19-21 A Choral Christmas with Ore Oduba (SH) 23 Geeta Brothers Live in Concert Featuring Jus Reign & Babbu (TH) 30 The Magic Moments of Burt Bacharach (SH)
December 08-09 Kasabian 10 DreamWorks Animation in Concert 12 Liam Gallagher 16 Queen + Adam Lambert 17 Five Finger Death Punch 20-24 Peter Pan - The World’s Biggest Panto
GENTING ARENA
December 09 Steps 10 Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets™ 15 UB40 16 I Love Reggae 21 André Rieu 29 Let’s Have A Rock ’n’ Roll Party
TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL
December 07 Prokofiev’s Cinderella (SH) 07 Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain With Bells On (SH) 08 City of Birmingham Choir Handel Messiah (SH) 08 JASON MANFORD: Work
SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON
December 09 VIP Music Fair 09 Vega Plus Theia & Gin Annie 14 Peter Hook & The Ligh 15 Strawberry Moon Showcase 31 Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
when he’s interacting with real actors. This “villain problem” isn’t exclusive to Justice League, or even exclusive to DC, as Marvel rarely deliver engaging villains — aside from Loki, Ego, The Winter Soldier, Obadiah Stane and (fingers crossed) Thanos — their villains have been largely forgettable, so this is something superhero movies need to improve upon as a whole. This is the first time we have ever seen the Justice League on the big screen and what should have been a huge, historic moment for superhero cinema ends up being nothing more than a mildly entertaining adventure full of issues that are too obvious to ignore. Sometimes you need to walk before you can run, but DC have been sprinting from the very beginning, trying to cash-in on the modern day obsession with Cinematic Universes, by scrambling together countless parts and hoping they end up with a puzzle, but they’ve left vital pieces of said puzzle way back at the starting blocks. Justice League would have benefitted greatly if they had adhered to the tried and tested formula of giving each character their own solo adventure first, allowing them to develop their individual personalities and allowing audiences to fall in love with them. Instead, they have jumped headfirst in to a team-up movie where audiences hadn’t even been introduced to most of the characters. Justice League is a brisk ride that is entertaining enough to keep you engaged, but it’s difficult not to be disappointed in something that should have been so much more than it is. The truth is, Justice League isn’t even one of the best superhero movies of the year, let alone of all time. In fact, of the superhero movies released this year - Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, SpiderMan: Homecoming, Wonder Woman and Thor: Ragnarok - Justice League is at the bottom of the pile.
CIVIC AND WULFRUN HALLS, WOLVERHAMPTON
December 07 Jive Talkin (Bee Gees Tribute) (Wulfrun) 08-09 Greg Davies - You Magnificent Beast Tour 2017 (Civic) 08 Paul Chowdhry (Wulfrun) 09 Darkside - The Pink Floyd Show (Wulfrun) 10 Sir Ken Dodd - The Happiness Show 2017 (Wulfrun) 10 Kanwar Grewal - Mastana Jogi Returns 2017 (Civic) 11 Jason Manford: Work in Progress (Wulfrun) 15-16 Thunder - Xmas Show (Civic) 15 Gogol Bordello Plus Lucky Chops (Wulfrun) 16 Abba Mania (Wulfrun) 19 The Prodigy (Civic) 20 Russell Brand - Re: Birth (Civic) 21 Roy Chubby Brown (Civic) 23 Blast Off - Xmas Party (Civic) 29 Joel Dommett: Live 2017 (Civic)
Agony Aunt
A Rose Between Thorns
l Dr Saroj ‘Rose’ Duggal
I
don’t know what to do! I’ve been with this guy for 3 months now, and everything seemed to be going well, then one day, it’s like he just up and left the planet! Everything was brilliant, we met up most weekends, talked most nights, and messaged constantly. We were even talking about moving in together in a few months when I had got settled and so had he. Suddenly he isn’t responding to any texts, WhatsApp messages, Snapchats or anything! It’s like he just turned into a ghost! What should I do to get him back? I really love him and I saw a great future together until this happened. I’m sure it must just be a little misunderstanding and once I can talk to him it will be all sorted out. What should I do? Ciara, Wolverhampton. Oh Ciara, I’m sorry, but it does look like you have hit the nail on the head when you said that he’s turned into a ghost! Ghosting is the terrible practice of literally just up and disappearing into thin air. It’s a horrible thing, but unfortunately it is something that is becoming more and more commonplace in todays society. By all means try to track the young man down, but if I’m being brutally honest I don’t think it is something that will come to fruition. Focus your energies elsewhere, find a new person who you can spend your time on, and create a new future for yourself. You’re worth far far more than you’re giving yourself credit for by pining after this man. Pick yourself up and make yourself happy! I wish you all the best! Don’t forget you can contact me by emailing your queries in to rose@thephoenixnewspaper.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Page 12 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
ENTERTAINMENT
S
talwart Soul Singer Mica Paris will perform renditions of Ella Fitzgerald classics during a very exclusive night in Birmingham. Ella Fitzgerald is one of the most revered jazz singers of the 20th century, known to many as ‘The Lady of Song’. Mica Paris is one of the UK's most respected female singers with a career full of Top 10 hit singles and albums worldwide. Her albums and singles include Black Angel, Stay and Carefree, together with collaborations with respected artists such as David Gilmour, Prince and Jools Holland, before turning her many talents to London's West End stage starring in Mama I Want to Sing, The Vagina Monologues and Sweet Lorraine. In April 2017, Mica Paris released two tracks with legendary trumpeter, jazz producer and arranger Guy Barker to celebrate the centenary of Ella Fitzgerald’s birth. Mica has recorded Imagine My Frustration and Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye two classics from the Ella Fitzgerald songbook. Mica Paris is set to make an impact on stage with her powerful soulful voice alongside her immensely talented jazz musicians. The range, power, and sheer soulfulness of Mica Paris' singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene. Expect to hear many of Ella’s wonderful songs during this special evening of classic live music.
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Mica Paris to channel Ella Fitzgerald for special Valentines gig
O
n Wednesday 15th November 2017, as part of ‘This Is Africa’ The 12th edition of Punch Records annual BASS festival, Global Afrobeats superstar FUSE ODG visited City Academy, a free school in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre to take part in a Q&A with a select group of year 11 music enthusiasts. The Ghanaian artist best known for his hit songs ‘Antenna’ and Sean Paul collaboration ‘Dangerous Love’ was empowering and encouraging the next generation of artists as he celebrated the release of his latest single ‘Boa Me’ featuring British pop favorite Ed Sheeran. Fuse’s interest in the education and success of young people can be traced back to 2007 when he raised funds to build a primary school for the children of a deprived area of Ghana. In 2017 he is continuing this mission further, not only by inspiring British school children, but by continuing to promote education for the young people of Ghana, this time by raising funds to build a secondary school in the same area as the primary school for those students now old enough for secondary education Before Fuse sat down with the students, we caught up with him to talk about everything from Ed Sheeran to his love of Ghanaian food.
Where did your artist name ‘Fuse ODG’ come from?
ODG stands for Off The Ground - it was a group that we created when we were kids in Mitcham, South London, so I just kept it as my surname because they were like my first family in the street. ‘Fuse’ is because I just want my name to be in every household, like a fuse in a plug. Also ‘Fuse’ incorporates different vibes, like fusing stuff together
Your latest single ‘Boa Me’ featuring Ed Sheeran is out now, what was the inspiration behind this track?
Every song that I made with ed in ghana was inspired by the day that we had. He was there for just over a week and everyday we would go out. Maybe we would go to the beach or to a local restaur-
ant, I always made sure he experienced the real culture of Ghana and then we would go and make music. When we made ‘Boa Me’ I had taken him to a school we are building in Akosombo, we have built a primary school over there and I was telling him about the mission and what we are trying to to for these kids by giving them an education. Its all about helping people and the song actually came off that vibe. ‘Boa Me’ actually means ‘Help Me’. Every Time we were at the house together it was so lively and fun, that vibe definitely came through in the track. We wanted to make something authentic and different. Ed actually was the one that thought it would be sick if we did the chorus in ‘Twi’ - the local Ghanaian language. Ed doesn't speak any English in the song, every single word of the song he sang in ‘Twi’ which made it much more special and authentic.
Which do you prefer more, being in the studio or performing live?
I really love performing because you're connecting to the crowd and you're seeing people's reactions and seeing them sing along to your songs. I also really love recording the music as well because again it's just fun. You start with nothing and then all of a sudden you have a song. Its nice to see the transition from being in the studio to being on stage. I love both just as much so it's hard to choose.
Do you have plans to tour soon?
Yes - next year (2018) we will be doing a tour 100%, my next Album is coming next year, so after a few
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 13
HEADLINE SPONSOR
7 Anniversary th
GALA
Dinner And Awards Presentation 2017
Special Souvenir Pullout
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A Royal Arrival
n imposing vision, The Ooni’s arrival into the UK would set the tone of what was to come as, leading a line of fellow kings and chiefs alongside him, as the Royal entourage marched solemnly through Heathrow Airport it was an occasion which no-one could miss as other passengers and by-standers stood agog with cameras and camera phones clicking away at a speed hardly before seen. Facilitated by the effervescent Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, founder of the Love Of Christ Generation C&S Church in London, Royalty, with its fanfare – Nigerian style, colour and regalia, plus centuries of history behind it, set off for
Birmingham and what was going to be the most memorable of State visits-the likes of which has never quite been experienced. With a dynasty going back centuries, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the 51st Ooni in the lineage, the Ooni would soon be in the second city, as preparations for the Gala Dinner & Awards were well under way. As he descended on Birmingham’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, the sound of music filled the air for hours before his eventual arrival, enticing hotel stayers and passers by to take part in the joyous celebrations surrounding His Imperial Majesty’s visit. As the drums died down following his entrance, in the early hours of the morning, the group was left to rest and prepare for the itinerary ahead.
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 15
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A Royal Visit to
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proud, yet humbled, Ms McLaughlin by his side – aided by TPN Media Chair, Dr Neslyn Watson-Druee - The Ooni would fire excitement and huge anticipation with his first visit, to Nehemiah UCHA, a retirement living scheme, in Aston. Enabled by Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE OD VLL, the meeting at Nehemiah’s Plummers House shared best practices of assisted living and retirement schemes which the Ooni stated would be good to take back to Ile-Ife to improve the si-
tutation over there. Following a showing of respect by his Kings and Chiefs, His Imperial Majesty heard about the history of the organisation from Jimmy Ogunshakin, Chairman of Nehemiah UCHA, and Llewellyn Graham, Chief Executive of Nehemiah UCHA and was introduced to Plummer House Scheme Manager Beverley Ramhi before being taken on a tour of the assisted living. “It was a real honour and very humbling indeed to have been included in His Imperial Majesty’s
tour of the West Midlands – and it was our absolute pleasure to meet him and show him around Plummer House,” Llewellyn Graham, Chief Executive of Nehemiah UCHA, says. The Royal party was given a tour of Plummer House, one of seven retirement schemes and Nehemiah UCHA’s earliest founded scheme, built in 1991. The scheme underwent an extensive refurbishment programme in 2016, benefiting all 37 self-contained flats that house older people, aged 55 and over.
Yoruba Descendants Midlands
A
s part of The Phoenix Newspaper’s itinerary for His Imperial Majesty The Ooni of Ile Ife, the King visited a Yoruba Descendants Midlands gathering in Birmingham. Meeting with the members of YDM, lead by Mr Stephen Akin Babasanya, the Ooni felt at ease and comfortable as he laughed and jokes, speaking the Yoruba language all the way. It was a lovely slice of home for His Imperial Majesty, before retiring back to his hotel with his hosts, TPN Media
and his entourage of Kings and Chiefs. In attendance were John Okundaye of Jecom and Co Accountants, and Olusegun Dosumu, Professor at Newman University and Doctoral Researcher at Birmingham City University.
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 17
H
is impact taking on greater awareness when his entourage, led by the ever-present band of hearty musicians, would mark his announced presence at Birmingham City Council. It’s the 18th Anniversary of the ever-popular German Market, in Birmingham, and even the thousands of revellers there, and stall holders, stood to attention to greet the royal entourage. “I feel blessed to be able to witness Royalty in our midst,” one on-looker said. Explaining the present structure and future strategy of Nigeria, on a world stage, The Ooni said: “We must make provisions for a growing population with extensive amounts of money going towards our youth.” On an eco-political stance, he went on: “With Birmingham being the centre for gold, in particular, and jewellery in general, the links between us two can be unending. “We just have to remain transparent with our minerals and raw materials.” Continuing, he said: “As the ‘Mirror of Africa,’ we have to be more pro-active with Birmingham-based companies setting up in Nigeria – through trade missions and the likes.`` “With oil and gas already prominent in the country, we are in a position to open more commercial properties on a grander
Building Links with
scale. “After all, the largest diamond bolder in world history was found in the Yoruba kingdom and originally used to light up that country. “Now we are looking to open strategic partnerships to work with us…not abuse us, and also create exchange programmes that would be mutually beneficial.” “Connections with the commonwealth is vital for all parties,” was the Council’s reply. “It’s about what we can deliver to you as well as what you can to us. “We are happy and willing to discuss a focal point to work from.” A commitment endorsed by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, Jerry Blackett, who highlighted the city’s “big appetite to explore new opportunities since Brexit. “After all, when British people first visited Nigeria the first people they came across were the Yuroba people.” An opportunity it was for His Royal Highness to, as he did at his previous visits, present a gift to Birmingham Lord Mayor, Councillor Anne Underwood; a bronze embossed framed figurine depicting the history of the Yoruba Kingdom in Nigeria and worldwide. TPN Media chair, Dr Neslyn, added: “We look to the future with a new vision and understanding with us at the forefront.”
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t Birmingham City University, in the presence of world renowned former cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire, which is part of BCU, plus other dignitaries including; Satinder Kaur Taunque OBE DL, Dr Beverly Lindsey OBE OD VL, BCU chair, Keith Stokes-Smith (also chair of Birmingham Commonwealth Association), and others. “Your Royal Highness, you exude love, harmony and hope,” said Dr Neslyn. “And TPN Media gives value to connecting communities as Marcia continues to do wonders as
Rolls she continues to be a mountain in all our communities. The Ooni’s visit would provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the large number students of Nigerian/African descent at the seat of learning. “Birmingham City University is testimony of the multicultural diversity of the city as a whole,” he said. “It’s an honour to be here at BCU. I thank the Vice-Chancellor for taking his time to welcome all of us to this beautiful University. It’s a great honour and we will not forget what you done for us. We are proud to be associated with this University and to be in the
thoughts and feelings of your students who are potential leaders of our great country of Nigeria and the entire Black race.” Birmingham City University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Philip Plowden, said: “Our Nigerian scholars are integral to our diversity and success going forward. “The visit by His Imperial Majesty is a chance for us to reflect on our collective past, present and future, and celebrate the success of our Nigerian students, both here and in their home country. “I hope this visit will mark the beginning of even more fruitful partnerships between Birmingham City
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 19
Out The Red Carpet University and Nigeria, and the Yoruba people in particular.” Speeches were also given by Oluwadamilola Adebambo, President of the Nigerian Society at Birmingham City University Students’ Union (BCSU) and Akin Babasanya, University alumnus and President of the Yoruba Descendants in the Midlands. It is thought there are almost 100,000 Yoruba people currently living in the UK. H.I.M. spoke of the historic significance of Africa and appealed for global unity. “Africa is the next frontier if the entire world. It is a continent that everyone has a stake in. All of humanity has a stake in it.
“Everyone has a cot there, that’s where the entire history of mankind began,” he said. “We belong to one big happy family and that’s what we should preach.” Following his speech, the Vice-Chancellor announced, that in the Ooni’s honour, a series of partial scholarships would be made available to prospective Yoruba students commencing their studies in 2018 at Birmingham City University. The scholarship, based on merit, was further marked by the exchange of a commemorative plate from the Vice-Chancellor to His Imperial Majesty. The event at Birmingham City
University concluded with a performance from a Nigerian student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Classical singer John Eclou from Edo State was accompanied by pianist postgraduate Stefanos Politsakis before gifts were exchanged on stage. “I hope today will mark the beginning of even more fruitful partnerships between Birmingham City University and Nigeria, and the Yoruba people in particular,” Professor Plowden said.
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A Spiritual Connection at the
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n the morning of the 25th November, mere hours before he was to attend The Phoenix Newspaper 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation at the ICC, His Imperial Majesty, The Ooni of Ife arrived at the Nishkam Centre on Soho Road. With a congregation standing waiting in white for the King, he was received by Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, Chairman of the centre. Presented with flowers, signifying love and warm welcome, he was ushered into the Gurdwara where he was shown around, offering flowers and prayers at various points within the Gurdwara. The Ooni offered and presented a flower to the center as a sign of love and peace in return. It was a remarkable visit for His Imperial Majesty as the centre was well built and decorated with gold. The
Nishkam Centre is a Sikh faith-led organization working for the benefit of all communities. The organisation is known for its mission to enrich mundane life through the practice and promotion of the Sikh values which is earning an honest living, sharing and active volunteering that are embedded in their spiritual and Dharmic heritage. The Ooni and his entourage enjoyed Langar, the sharing of food that is available to everyone at the Gurdwara every day regardless of status, religion or race. His Imperial Majesty was later entertained with a warm reception to show appreciation of his visit to Nishkam Centre. He was presented with various gifts in recognitions of his visit and His Imperial Majesty in a swift reaction made a presentation to the Centre itself for their kind gesture done to him and his entourage.
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 21
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The Official Launch of the
T
HE ESTHER AJAYI FOUNDATION has been established by Reverend Mother Esther (Iya Adura) Ajayi, as an expression of her deep and heart felt desire to touch as many lives as possible through charitable and philanthropic giving, based on the biblical principles that have been fundamental in blessing her with such a fruitful and abundant life.
Her vision for the Foundation is to lead the organisation to become world-class in giving and to help raise, inspire and support a new generation of givers. With a serious focus on philanthropy, volunteerism, and making a difference in the world, Reverend Mother Ajayi believes in the power of what can be achieved, when we place giving at the centre of our lives. She is passionate about making her life a demonstration of just how much change one individual can affect, when that individual makes giving a way of life. THE ESTHER AJAYI FOUNDATION is this vision at scale. Inspired by her own experiences, she has had long standing determination to support some key causes dear to the heart such as the plight
of the Homelessness, those held in Detention Camps, moving people out of poverty, rehabilitation of offenders, as well as assisting other organisations with the same passion for changing the lives of those less fortunate. The Foundation applies the principles of Venture Philanthropy, investing both money and expertise, to achieve systemic change within its chosen sectors, recognising that money alone will not solve some of society’s greatest inequalities. As will initiating its own projects, THE ESTHER AJAYI FOUNDATION encourges partnership and colloboration assisting organisations to develop and implement sustainable and successful programmes as well as providing the necessary support required in terms of training, guidance and evaluation. Over the next 12 months the THE ESTHER AJAYI FOUNDATION will roll out an exciting programme of projects partnerships and events that will showcase an innovative approach to charitable and philanthropic endeavor.
Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation Photographs by Mo Naheem Ash of Motions Media unless otherwise stated
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 23
The Unveiling of
l Emeke Alex Akwaeze, Operations Manager, Phoenix Nigeria
T
he Phoenix Nigeria is a fresh and vibrant publication bringing the quality and content from the highly respected UK publishing company, TPN Media Ltd. The Phoenix Newspaper is renowned as the “voice of the people” truthful and professional journalism, in depth reports and interviews, facts and not fiction, presented in a bright and refreshing publication that attracts and captivates its audience. Now these exciting developments are coming to the people of Nigeria in this First of its kind Exclusive FREE Issue Monthly Magazine. Working with the people and communities of the regions, connecting with senior government departments and embracing the leaders of major business enterprises, we will be bringing something for everyone, in this new and exclusive monthly publication “The Phoenix Nigeria”. Following the Unveiling of Phoenix Nigeria at The Phoenix Newspaper 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation by His Imperial Majesty The Ooni of Ife, we will be working closely with him in Nigeria to ensure that the publication does as much as it is able to do to serve the people of Nigeria. The Magazine will be available in print and online!
www.phoenixnigeria.com
Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
2017 Awar
l International Businesswoman Of The Year Award 2017 - Deborah Leary
l Spiritual Leadership Award 2017 - Reverend Esther Ajayi
l International Businessman Of The Year Award 2017 - Paul Ramsey
l Charity Of The Year Award 2017 Ronald McDonald House Charities
l Musical Dedication Award 2017 Mark Dwayne Gillespie
l Enterprise Award 2017 - Kenneth Grey
l Media Personality Award 2017 - Noreen Khan
l Local Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2017- Joel Graham Blake
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 25
rd Winners
l Emissary of Peace Award 2017 - Honourable Farouk Adamu Aliyu - Received by his representative
l Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 - Satinder Kaur Taunque OBE DL & Jagjit Singh Taunque MBE DL
l People’s Choice Award 2017 - Abbey Paseda l International Sports Development Award 2017 Steve Hollingworth
l Local Hero Award 2017 - Dean Alexander
l Heart Of The Community Award 2017 Jeanette Nicholson AKA Miss Lily
l Connecting Communities Award 2017 - Garry Peal l
International Communications Specialist Award 2017 - Johnson JohnRose
Page 26 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
Editors Choice Awards
Presented by Headline Sponsor Reverend Esther Ajayi
l Faith Connection Award 2017- Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh OBE
l Veteran Award 2017 - Cecil Morris
l Editors’ Choice Award 2017 - Poppy Brady
l Lifetime Contribution To Music 2017 Gurcharan Mall A.K.A. King G Mall
l Motivation Award 2017 - Dr Neslyn Watson-DruĂŠe CBE
l Special Community Veteran Award 2017 - Sted Wallen
l True Friend Award 2017 Olusegun Dosumu
l Employee Of The Year Award 2017 - Daniel Riley
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 27
The Phoenix Rises
T
he Dhol Blasters met His Imperial Majesty’s procession along with host Marcia McLaughlin and co-host Reverend Esther Ajayi at the Hyatt Hotel, leading the group past Symphony Hall and into the foyer of the ICC. Preceeded by the drumming of the Dhol Blasters, the procession was led to the VIP Drinks Reception, where The King was introduced to the other dignitaries and VIP guests. The Royal Navy, Air Force and Army marched the procession onto the Red Carpet of Hall 4 before the King Cross Pathfinder Drum Core brought the VIPs into the room. The night was packed with guest speakers including Johnson JohnRose who gave a passionate and rousing speech, as well as Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh OBE, The Jamaica High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Seth George Ramocan, Deborah Leary OBE, Keith
Stokes-Smith of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street who all spoke of the Commonwealth and how The Phoenix epitomises that celebration of Queen Elizabeth and her love for the Commonwealth. His Imperial Majesty spoke with gusto following a sumptuous dinner, praising The Phoenix Newspaper for its efforts in Connecting Communities, and the drive to bring together the diverse cultures of the Commonwealth. The hosting team on the night included Toastmaster Reuben Lynch, Adrian de Redman and main presenter of the awards ceremony, Henry Bonsu, who prostrated in front of His Imperial Majesty as a mark of respect, an unexpected but appreciated gesture by the man of Ghanaian heritage who had only just lost his father and yet continued on in a true professional manner.
Continued on Next Page
Page 28 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
Continued from Previous Page
Entertainment highlights on the night included standout performances from the Wan Sheung Dance Group, Choy Lee Fut Lion Dance Team, Peter Spence, Mark Dwayne, Camara Fearon and Daniel Riley. There was a launch and an unveiling on the night before the awards started - The Esther Ajayi Foundation and Phoenix Nigeria respectively. Headline Sponsor Esther Ajayi took to the stage where Patrick Campbell shared her vision of a foundation that aims to touch over 1 million lives in the next year alone. Phoenix Nigeria was unveiled by Marcia McLaughlin alongside His Imperial Majesty and Reverend Esther Ajayi. The publication aims to provide a free high quality business publication to the masses in Nigeria and was unveiled by His Imperial Majesty cutting the ribbon on stage. An impassioned speech by Rubie Marie highlighted her Journey in-
spiring everyone present to never give up, before Grace Sturridge and her Sturr Crazy sauces let everyone know what their tastebuds had been missing. The awards were a reflection of what is true and great about our community with an eclectic mix of the great and the good celebrating together. The Humanitarian Award was given to His Imperial Majesty, awarded for his tireless work promoting the Yoruba people and connecting communities worldwide. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to two Deputy Lieutenants who are joined at the hip, Satinder Kaur Taunque OBE DL and Jagjit Singh Taunque MBE DL, acknowledging their years of selfless service to all communities across Birmingham. The night was a resounding success with everyone leaving feeling uplifted and content, bring on next year!
The Last Supper O n Snnday 26th November, the hosts, TPN Media, and His Imperial Majesty, along with specially invited guests had a final meal together before the King and his entourage returned to London. Set in the beautiful Hyatt Regency, Birmingham, the group sat to break
bread and reflect on the events of the previous few days. Many words of thanks were spoken, from Marcia McLaughlin, Founder and Managing Editor of The Phoenix Newspaper, Reverend Esther Ajayi of the Esther Ajayi Foundation, and even from the Ooni and members of his entourage. Noticing the calibre of vocalists
around the table on the night, host Patrick Campbell organised an impromtu singing competition. At the end of the night, despite a closely fought battle between Lady G, Daniel Riley and Dave Wilkes, the winner by public vote was Daniel, who received a commemorative piece of artwork from the Ooni of Ile Ife.
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 29
More Secure By Royal Appointment
D
uring the visit of His Imperial Majesty to Birmingham, security was tight with close protection security the order of the day. Clint Dunkley aka Beva along with his trusted team were responsible for the Kings safety at all times. Behind the wheel of his trusted beast, he ensured that the King was transported safely and securely between each destination. Towering over even His Imperial Majesty himself, The Ooni had to make mention that his Close Protection were both rather tall people!
Working closely with His Imperial Majesty’s own CSO, they were able to put together a tight mutually beneficial security system of close protection that had us all in awe. Beva said that he prides himself in protecting all important people that come into Birmingham, including Presidents, Prime Ministers, and now Kings. “It was a proud moment for us to be in close proximity to His Imperial Majesty, and at the same time graining greater knowledge of the traditions and history. God Bless The King�
Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
Give Thanks To The L F
ollowing The Phoenix Newspaper 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation on the 25th November, the 26th saw a thanks giving service to God almighty for the success of the event. The church service which took place at the Shilonite Gospel Church of Cherubim and Seraphim in Birmingham, started with praise and worship to God almighty and Bible readings with emphasis, doing and abiding on the perfect wills of God for our lives. Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, also
know and called Iya Adura, in her message did not mince her words but spoke as an oracle of God, by reminding the congregation that as a servant of God, she owes the church the responsibility of telling them the truth, about the expectation of God from us. She emphasized the need for the Church to see themselves as one, with the same mandate from God almighty , and encourage each and every one to make sure they have a right standing with God, to be an encourager rather than discouragement to the body and growth of the word of the almighty.
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 31
Lord For He Is Good In a swift message by the host pastor, he acclaimed that the service is a unique one in the sense it was able to attract His Imperial Majesty the Ooni of Ile-Ife to this special event and urged all members of the church to see this royal visit as a blessing. His Imperial Majesty, in his sermon talking about the power of the tongue, with bible readings taken from John 1 verse 1 and Proverbs 18, verse 21, advised we watch what we say as it will affect our lives and how our future will turn out to be. He mentioned that being posit-
ive-minded is key for greatness. With the hall full to the brim with the congregation in attendance, His Imperial Majesty ministered in songs of thanks giving for all that God has done. He recognised that God almighty is the only reason why we are alive and out of the love he have for us we have been redeemed, that Christ is the King of all Kings and that anyone who do not have him is dead. The thanksgiving service came to an end with a dinner to celebrate the love for all that God has done.
Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
TPN Media would like to thank His Imperial Majesty for taking the time to come to Birmingham to celebrate our 7th Anniversary with us, and to officially unveil the Phoenix Nigeria Magazine, honouring us all with his time and presence in the Second City. We thank him for his commitment to working with us on Phoenix Nigeria ongoing. We hope it was as fruitful a trip for you as it was for everyone involved in Birmingham. A special thank you to Reverend Esther Ajayi and
Thank You
Patrick Campbell of the Esther Ajayi Foundation for being our main sponsor. Thanks also to Birmingham Commonwealth Association, Birmingham City Council and the Nishkam Centre for working in association with us for this event. To Nehemiah UCHA, Birmingham City University, Yoruba Descendants Midlands and the Nishkam Centre, thank you for helping to make the itinerary a great success. Thank you to all the guest speakers including Johnson
JohnRose, Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh OBE, Jamaica High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Seth George Ramocan, Mayor of the West Midlands, Mr Andy Street CBE, Deborah Leary OBE, and Keith Stokes-Smith, Birmingham Commonwealth Association. As our chosen UK charity, Birmingham Childrens’ Hospital is a very worthy cause close to many of our hearts. We thank you all for your support and generosity in providing raffle and auction prizes for this effort. EXCLUSIVE
Headline Sponsor
INSIDE THIS MONTH
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For a more exclusive Photo Album of the event, check out Peepoo Celebration Your Feature Event Magazine Order Your Copy Now! Name........................................................................ Address..................................................................... Number of Copies................................................... Contact Number..................................................... Email Address.......................................................... Send your information to: TPN Media, The Colmore Building, Birmingham, B4 6AT
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 33
ENTERTAINMENT
more singles and the Album i’ll be going on tour. I’ll definitely be coming back to Birmingham for the tour!
You've collaborated with some huge names during your career so far. Who would you like to work with next and why?
Thats a hard one because before Ed Sheeran was actually at the top of the list! I like Damian Marley, he's really someone that i’d like to work with. I like Pharrell as well actually.
If you weren’t an artist what would you have done instead?
I’d probably be doing community projects and working with young people. I’d be running my businesses, being an entrepreneur and then using that to support community work.
As part of Punch Record’s BASS2017, you’re visiting students at the Birmingham school ‘City Academy’ today, and you are known for raising funds for schools in Ghana, why is contributing to schools so important to you?
The best way to educate the world is to start with the young people. From the age of a baby to like fifteen, that’s the best time to teach someone because that’s when they soak in the most information. After around 20 people get stuck in their ways and it’s hard to teach people. Starting from early onwards is the best way to teach people and it’s very important that we all do our part and teach them the right way. No matter what they are going to be taught from the TV to stuff they see on social media and on the streets, so we need to do our part to place the right educational tools for them to learn the right way. I feel like I have to do my part, that’s why we are building another school in Ghana, so we can teach them the right way, so they can think the right way, so they can love themselves the right way. Rather than them being influenced by another group or company with the wrong agenda, we have to make sure we teach our kids to that they can go forward and lead the world because we are all going to get old someday and need them to take over.
Recently African influenced music is enjoying a lot of commercial success in the UK, why do you think this is?
Because it’s good vibes and good music. Music isn't really about language, there's no language barrier, it's about what feels good you know? Just Rhythm and melody and the message s o m e times. It’s music that's nice and
makes you feel good, everyone likes to be happy and African music is all about that and good vibes. It’s not just that thought, the UK is such a diverse country and very embracing of other cultures, that makes me proud to be British. So even if you're interested in a different genre of music, you might have a friend that’s African that starts playing it and then you start dancing to it and enjoying it, so the music gets shared across cultures.
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JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA
BASS2017’s theme is ‘‘This is Africa’, it celebrates the culture, art and heritage of Africa. What do you celebrate most about your Ghanaian heritage and culture?
WED 13 & THU 14 DECEMBER SYMPHONY HALL
A FAMILY CHRISTMAS WITH THE TOWN HALL GOSPEL CHOIR
I love the food and I love the music. So food and music is the perfect combination. The food in Ghana is everything, its proper heavy food too but everyone can still stay slim. There this food called Waakye, it's like rice and peas but it's rice and beans, it's got a really hot pepper in it called ---, it's really hot but I like spicy food. We have jollof, we have so many different local dishes that I know the world would love, just like they love our music. When Ed came he said his favorite food was Waakye, so you should come to Ghana and try it and see that we have amazing food. Also everyone dances in Ghana, the music just moves people in the street, from people in the market to drives, everyone's dancing all over the place. So I love our music, our food and our dancing.
FRI 22 DECEMBER TOWN HALL
GEETA BROTHERS LIVE IN CONCERT SAT 23 DECEMBER TOWN HALL
You're currently raising money to build a secondary school in Ghana, having already helped to fund a primary school, where can people find out more and support this cause?
You can go to Gofundme.com/ wewillrizetogether - We have now also teamed up with a Jamaican organisation to raise funds for refurbishments on a school there. So we are building a school in Ghana and refurbishing Haile Selassie high school in Jamaica. The idea is to connect these young people, kind of twin the schools so they can start communicating with each other from early. There's a crazy distance between Africa and the Caribbean and also there's no direct flights, which is something i've not been happy about for a while and we are doing something about it, we are making noise and letting people know that needs to change because there's such a barrier between Africa and the Caribbean, physically and logistically, it just doesn't make sense. We need to fix all of that, we are doing what we can with linking the schools so that these young people are talking from early, so that they can start seeing each other, talking and building relationships and doing business in the future naturally. We have to start early.
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION PRESENTS LA HAINE FRI 19 JANUARY TOWN HALL
JAZZLINES PRESENTS ZARA MACFARLANE WED 7 FEBRUARY HARE & HOUNDS
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Town Hall Symphony Hall townhallsymphonyhall
Funded by
@THSHBirmingham thsh_birmingham
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Page 34 - The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017
TEEN FLAIR WITH RHEA DEHANEY
www.streetcredmagazine.com
WHAT CAN I LOOK FORwARD TO? Welcome to another edition of Teen Flair!
N
ow what is one thing you notice about the picture’s over there? Yes!
Hair. Over the years, some people style changes, or maybe it’s there change in music. For me it’s my hair! I gathered pictures taken over the years of the different hairstyles i’ve worn. For the hair lovers out there you’ll most likely be the same, Now a lot of my friends age 16 and upwards even run their own little hair business to earn cash on the side, I personally admire this, as some learn to do hair from either watching someone close to them do hair, or even just personal experience of having different hairstyles. Now we all have our favourites hair companies who provide (weaves, wigs, lace frontals, closure fronts) for those who might not know what these are, here are some picture’s below. UniWigs human hair wig collection provides a large variety of human hair wigs, including celebrity styles, classic lace human hair wigs, and custom wigs. They sent me the beautiful 30 inch loose wave brazilian virgin remy hair weave plus a brazilian lace frontal closure with baby hair. The hair is soft and manage-
able. And the one thing that is important to me is if the hair is true to length and minimal shedding. I love the length and one quality about this hair is that not only do the curls last long but when the hair is straightened, the texture last for more than 3 weeks, when kept in a good condition. “Unique to our industry, we make our hair designs at our design center in LA and produce them at our factories based in Asia. Design, development, production, quality control and sales.” Uniwigs controls every step of the hair making process and en-
sures high Uniwigs quality. They take responsibility in providing our customers the best. Uniwigs offer the largest discount since Friday. It is at least 35% off everything on our website. A great chance to save money! UniWigs is an on-line wig store that offers human hair wigs, synthetic wigs, hair extensions and hair pieces for women who want to look their best and feel confident. Whether it is for fashion, for fun or to compensate for hair loss or thinning hair, you can always find the perfect products here! Click on Uni wigs and you should find these products under ‘Weaves and closures’ 3 Bundles Loose Wave 6A Brazilian Unprocessed Virgin Remy Hair Weave: https://goo.gl/iMWCGZ Brazilian 13x4 Loose Wave Lace Frontal Closure With Baby Hair: https://goo.gl/eyQG88
Dress Sense - Your Views? S
JOBS
ome of you may be either in sixth form or college, or maybe you’re in the stage of looking for the right one to attend. Well in my sixth form, the teachers recently presented an assembly only for the girls on how we should dress. The posters you see above were put up as a response to the assembly, it caused some
debates and tense arguments between the boys and girls. I attend a mixed sixth form and the teachers were saying that is it important to dress modest, and that we should be aware of our clothing. As boys in younger years get excited, and that we obviously shouldn’t be dress like how we would on the weekend at home or wherever.
What are your thoughts? Personally, I think subjects like this are good to talk about, and it’s interesting to see a male and female perspective. I encourage you to ask questions, maybe look up what debates you could begin during free time. What are you passionate about? What do you think needs to be talked about?
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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
This is the place to be on the 22nd of December, a free event, for all you singers, rappers etc you don’t want to miss this one opportunity to network! I’ll be singing along with some talented people… It’s going to be amazing!
KEEP IN TOUCH As we are all aware there is power in social media, I will be using these networking sites, to promote this newspaper page, and #TEAMFLAIR which will not only advertise, but will promote what to look forward to in the newspaper. I’m not only hoping to create just another column, but a movement, for young people of all races.
Go and check out new twitter page #TEAMFLAIR twitter page! To keep updated with activities, polls and more, do not forget to hashtag #Teamflair
Contact me at rhea.dehaney@thephoenixnewspaper.com with all your news, information and more!
The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2017 - Page 35
ENTERTAINMENT
www.streetcredmagazine.com
‘Stormzy’-ing the MOBO Awards
S
tormzy stole the show winning 3 MOBO Awards on a night that saw the best of the industry recognised for their talents. This year also saw a “Paving the Way Award” given to Idris Elba, for recognition for achievements in the arts and contribution to British culture. With Stefflon Don and Damien Marley also grabbing gongs for Best Female and Reggae acts respectively, it was a night for celebration.
Best Male Act Stormzy
Best Female Act Stefflon Don
Best Album
Gang Signs & Prayer by Stormzy
Best Newcomer Dave
Best Song
J Hus, "Did You See"
Best Video
Mist, "Hot Property"
Best Hip-Hop Act Giggs
Best Grime Act Stormzy
Best R&B/Soul Act Craig David
Best International Act Wizkid
Best African Act Davido
Best Reggae Act Damian Marley
Best Jazz Act Moses Boyd
Best Gospel Act
Volney Morgan & New-Ye
Paving the Way Award Idris Elba
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