Inside THIS MONTH
Scandal of subnormal schools Survivors taking legal action for justice p8-9
Church blind eye Call to recognise domestic violence p14-15
ROUNDUP
News, views, stories & videos THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK
1. White nationalist attacks race equality veteran Jasper Ruckus at presser outside Scotland Yard
2. Mum’s rage at Shop Rangers Violent arrest of teenager in Chichester Superdrug
3. Call for Sharpeville prosecutions South African campaigner wants justice
4. Senator guilty of organ harvesting
Elderly hunger timebomb Lack of savings threaten retirement p18-20
Nigerian politician and wife go down for plot
5. Casey Review: we need action today
Reaction comment to damning police report
6. Brixton tower opposition boost
Gospel sistas stand up Female artists deserve more credit p35
City Hall come out against gentrification’
7. We need Black teachers now! L’Myah Sherae explains why issue matters
Brewing up a storm Jaega’s ambition isn’t pint sized p38
8. Sunak urged to act on pay gap Government under pressure after new report
9. Cop monitor body slams Met
Abimbola Johnson says police must listen and learn
Packing a punch Caroline Dubois wants shot at title p47
10. Antigua ends weed prohibition
First Caribbean country to legalise cannabis
This issue is 48 pages EDITOR Lester Holloway E. lester.holloway@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
NEWS EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
The Voice says
Afrobeats ban shows UK isn’t serious
THE BLOCKING of Afrobeat stars’ visas is yet another example of how racism is also an act of self-harm on Britain. Just at the moment when Afrobeats is taking over as the most popular genre — and even being appropriated by pop stars — along comes Suella Braverman to prevent Britain capitalising on this cultural opportunity. There’s a thriving Afrobeat scene in the UK, thanks in part to how large African communities are. Britain is the beating heart of Afrobeats outside of est frica yet all Home Office officials see are ‘potential illegal immigrants’. Our investigation (pages 4-5) found one Afrobeats star was denied a visa because his promoter was judged to have too much money for his age. Another Afrobeats producer said he was considering shooting his music videos in Ghana rather than Britain because immigration officials ere being too stringent. is is not t e only act of self arm Britain in icts upon itself due to racism. A government review by Baroness Ruby McGregorSmith found the UK loses £24 billion a year — or 1.3 per cent of GDP — due to racism in employment. On top of this, the most entrepreneurial people are newcomers, including those who sought asylum here. The Home Secretary’s desire to pull up the drawbridge will deny Britain the top business people and job-creators of the future. If Britain is to prosper outside the EU, the government must recognise that the value of diversity is not only cultural, but it is also economic. In this post-Brexit world, we simply cannot afford to lose Black talent from the jobs market, turn away tomorrow’s business successes, or shut musicians out. Last year, we revealed that no UK trade minister had visited an African nation — but Britain had struck a trade deal with Liechtenstein (pop. 40,000). These are not the actions of a serious country, with serious leaders. If we want to break the cycle of low productivity and the longest wage squeeze, it will help if Britain gets less racist.
Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
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