Melvin Boateng

South East Londoner • 21st December 2024

Meet the author fighting for community spaces in London as a library opens in her name | South East Londoner

A London-based author fighting for community spaces has had a new library named after in her hometown of Woolwich, south east London.


The Woolwich front room features a library inside that is now named after 30 year old Black-British Caribbean writer Shani Akilah. 


This was particularly momentous as Akilah believes attending a community book event hosted by Bernardine Evaristo in 2019 contributed to her leaving her corporate career in 2022 and publishing her first book, For Such a Time as...

South West Londoner • 9th December 2024

London’s Muslims call for action to combat rising Islamophobia

London’s Muslim community urged the government to tackle the escalating crisis of Islamophobia, as hate crimes rise and calls for systemic change grew louder during an awareness month.


Islamophobia Awareness Month was founded in 2012 by a coalition of Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND).


The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims defines Islamophobia as rooted in racism and a type of racism which...

North West Londoner • 29th November 2024

Alfie Templeman goes out with a bang on final night of UK tour

Indie rising star Alfie Templeman delivered an energetic and soulful performance for the final night of his UK tour at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on Monday 18 November.


Having left school at 16 to pursue music full time, Londoner Templeman has since released two studio albums and was named an MTV Push UK 2021 finalist.


The 21-year-old singer-songwriter released his second studio album Radiosoul in June 2024 and it peaked at number three on the UK indie chart.


The young musician’s live...

South West Londoner • 18th November 2024

TfL safety improvements begin on Battersea Bridge

Safety improvements are underway on Battersea Bridge following years of public concern after several road incidents, including one death. 


The work began on Friday 1 November as part of major development in the area.


The plan will provide necessary works to the bridge such as improved pavements and traffic lights, and changes to several junctions which surround the bridge on the north and south sides. 


The improvements are part of the second phase of TfL’s Battersea Bridge Scheme which...

Kofi Talks • 22nd October 2024

Counterfeit by Mereba - Review

After a 3 year high quality feature run, Mereba returns to form with Counterfeit.

‘The Breeze Grew a Fire’ is out on the 14th February, a Valentine’s day treat! It marks Mereba’s first solo album since 2019 and if Counterfeit is a touchstone of the album, we are in for a soulful, intentional, reflective record with heartfelt vocals, flawless production and guitars galore.

15th October 2024

Madrasa Ben Yousef

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ben Youssef Madrasa is an architectural beauty that immediately stuns visitors and holds profound historical significance. The building has stood nestled in the Medina since 1565 and was the scholarly epicentre of Marrakech.

Kofi Talks • 17th September 2024

Pointy Heights by Fousheé - Album Ranked

Fousheé, an American born R&B singer released her second studio album Pointy Heights on Friday 13th September and it is safe to say she did not disappoint. I first encountered Fousheé’s music after her single Deep End went viral on TikTok following a dance trend - many such cases. However her music stuck with me due to its avant garde and experimental nature.The album is an obvious homage to Fousheé’s Jamaican heritage, with many nods to her culture in the lyrics, melodies and sounds. The instrum...

Kofi Talks • 17th January 2024

Agafay Desert 🏜️🐪

Spanning several hundred hectares, it is hard to define the Agafay desert as no two spots are the same. My experience in the desert has been varied. My first experience was extremely underwhelming on a flat rocky plain whereas my second visit was idyllic and one of the best excursions I’ve ever done.The usual activities in the desert include:Quad biking - My favourite desert activity and easily the most exhilarating. It offers a lot of autonomy to have fun and really gets the adrenaline going. I...

Kofi Talks • 19th March 2022

Imlil Lodge, Atlas Mountains 🏔️

My visit to the Imlil lodge was the first time I truly felt at one with nature, surrounded by nothing but clouds and the Atlas Mountains. There was an alluring silence in those mountains - the air was cleaner, the breeze felt smoother, and it was as though it was the only place left on Earth.After a long drive from Marrakesh and a short walk up the mountains we finally reached the Imlil Lodge. Tucked in a valley with nothing but a view of the Atlas mountains, it truly was a nature retreat. The s...

The Everyday • 10th June 2020

Colston: The First Domino to Fall — The Everyday

On June 7th, Edward Colston took a deep dive. He once stood tall as a venerated, 18ft bronze statue on his eponymous avenue, but now finds himself a fallen enemy of the public. We have all seen the photos and videos that swamped the internet following his toppling from his previous pedestal in Bristol. It was an iconic moment. Speaking to a bristolian friend of mine I discovered that after years of being ignored by the council, the people of Bristol saw the BLM protests as an opportunity to take...