MAY, 2022 • ISSUE NO. 1930
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MAY ISSUE 6
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LIFE SUPPORT Cost of living crisis sparks community heroes into action
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OCKETING fuel bills and the rising cost of living is sparking members of the community to step up to support families pushed into poverty. Experts predict the black community will be once again hardest hit in this crisis with more parents unable to feed their kids as inflation outstrips wages. Solomon Smith, founder of the Brixton Soup Kitchen, says he has seen the number of people using his foodbank double. With the worst yet to come, a renewed community spirit to help each other survive these hard times is growing. Anti-poverty campaigners are encouraging voters to hold politicians to account as they knock on doors ahead of the May local elections and demand action. . Read more › pages 6
TACKLING HUNGER: Solomon Smith (centre) with CC Foundation
36 | THE VOICE MAY 2022
News feature
Kimba putting youth on the write track By Darell J. Philip
w
E CAUGHT up with performance poet and recording artist, Kimba Ha-Saum Bush-Ramsey, who is on a mission to get the youth to Write the Wrongs in their life. The 44-year-old, currently living in Richmond, London, originally from Trenton, New Jersey, has published his debut book, a tale emanating from his own coloured and vast experiences. Sitting down with Darell J. Philip, Bush-Ramsey speaks on what drew him to writing and why he wants to use the word to inspire the next generation.
The Voice: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Kimba: I’m a former All American football player who started writing poetry and songs during university while studying drafting and design. I’ve loved music and art from a young age. But it wasn’t until University that I discovered my love for writing, art, a necessity for creating music, performing lyrics and singing. Whilst in
university I met and eventually married Susie – an athlete and artist from the UK. We lived in Kentucky for a few years before moving to London in 2007. Immediately upon arriving in London I took to the underground music and poetry scene and found an audience, which led to me performing, writing, and recording lots. As well as having just released my first officially published poetry book Write the Wrongs for ages seven plus, I also run workshops in schools across the UK, empowering young people with the gift of words. The Voice: Kimba – is there a meaning to your name and if so what is it? Kimba: My father named me and told me my first name means warrior and my middle name prince. So my stage name is my full first name, although growing up everybody called me Kim. When I went to university my environment was totally new and everyone there only knew me as Kimba. I’ve gone through several stage names in my artistic life but eventually
grew most comfortable using my birth name as I felt it naturally and perfectly suited me. The Voice: Share with us the work you do in schools and what the response has been to it. Kimba: The work I am privileged to do within schools allows me to educate, empower, and enlighten young people with the gift of writing. Far too many people see writing as a chore and not a gift. And the transformative power of performance is often totally disregarded, dismissed, or undervalued. Writing, memorising (I prefer to call it internalising) and speaking are three of the most powerfully timeless faculties we as human beings have. And it is my mission to infinitely affect the world with the positive power of writing and performance. I can be booked through www. authorsabroad.com to go into schools for half or full days and do creative writing, poetry writing, song writing and performance workshops with age groups starting as young as reception all the way up to GCSE, college, and university level.
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The response has been amazing, not only from students but also from their teachers who often admit they’d never previously witnessed their students producing writing to the level that comes out of our sessions. The Voice: You recently released your debut book: Write the Wrongs — where did the inspiration for the title come from? Kimba: The title came from the revelation that writing empowers every individual to correct the wrongs they feel society desperately needs. It’s a poetry book that explores the upbringing of an inner city youth who loves arts, sports, culture, and who desires fulfilment in life. There are very imaginative pieces, humorous, solemn, reflective pieces, a bit of everything in there really. I rap, sing, produce and play sports. So you’ll find a lot of rhythm in my writing and a love for linguistic twisting. I believe anyone who appreciates poetry and certainly performance poetry will really enjoy it. It’s written for everyone to understand and appreciate what’s being said.
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The Voice: What are some of the wrongs you have had to right during your childhood/ youth years? Kimba: It’s only been quite a few years later but I’ve been realising in increasingly greater degrees the power writing, music, the arts and performance have to combat or treat emotional trauma. Over the last ten years I’ve begun to discover how emotional trauma can result in deteriorating mental health, which is not often recognised until it’s too late in my cultural demographic. About three years ago my younger brother passed away at age 34 due to deteriorating mental health issues. I still can’t believe it and am brokenhearted over it. He was a beautiful, extremely bright and intelligent young man. So a lot of what I write is about the internal dialogue going on in the subconscious during our youth. How we feel about ourselves and others we share spaces with; how we navigate life from the variety of starting points we may have and making the most of it in hope, faith, and action.
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The Voice: What message do you want to get across to readers of your book? Kimba: My overall message is nothing is impossible. You deserve to live the life you were born to and capable of. But no one is going to give it to you. You have to decide to write the wrongs through word and deed. Inspiration is everywhere. Necessity is the mother of creativity but you have to take consistent, daily action though the desired result won’t come easy or overnight. That’s been so hard for me to swallow as I became an adult and life got more challenging. But I found my footing through creative writing, music and just my loves and hobbies which weren’t necessarily encouraged pursuits in my youth. But I got there eventually. I’m here now. Write the Wrongs (2022) published by Caboodle Books can be purchased for £5.99 plus shipping directly from Kimba’s website: www.kingkimba.com This interview is dedicated in memory and honour of Kimba’s late and beloved younger brother, Ronald Graham Watkins Jr. (April 21, 1985-Sept 8, 2019)
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TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT
OF SPORT
MAY 2022 | THE VOICE
MOMENT OF PRIDE: Ian Wright receives his award from Premier League chief executive Richard Masters. Below: Wayne Rooney, Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany were also honoured
THE WRIGHT CHOICE The former Arsenal striker couldn’t have felt prouder to take his place in the Premier League Hall of Fame By Rodney Hinds
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N EMOTIONAL Ian Wright has revealed his pride in being named in the Premier League Hall of Fame. The effervescent Wright and Didier Drogba were among six recent new inductees into the exclusive group. The striking duo, who had so much success at Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, were joined by Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany, Peter Schmeichel and Paul Scholes.
HONOURED They were selected by the public through an online vote, and the Premier League Awards Panel. They join Wayne Rooney and Patrick Vieira as this year’s inductees and were formally honoured at a star-studded event at The Shard in London. On his induction into the Hall of Fame, Wright said: “When I found out, it was extremely emotional and humbling. I have received so many
messages from fans which is incredibly touching. It’s the stuff dreams are made of to be amongst this group of elite players. I want to dedicate my induction to Steve Coppell who first took a chance on me, to take me off the building site and give me my chance at being a professional footballer.”
have played with any of the current list of inductees, it would have to be Paul Scholes. He’s one of the best to ever play in the Premier League.” Former Manchester City ace Kompany said: “This moment is difficult to describe, but I am incredibly honoured. I may have depended on my
“When I found out, it was extremely emotional and humbling. The messages from fans were touching” The ceremony, which was hosted by broadcaster Kelly Cates, saw each of the players formally receive their Hall of Fame medallions from Premier League chief executive Richard Masters in front of their families and guests, including TV host and former England star Gary Lineker, music artist AJ Tracey and YouTubers Chunkz and Elz the Witch. Vieira, leader of Arsenal’s Invincibles, added: “If I had the chance to
teammates at times, but I also tried to make others better.” When asked about fellow Hall of Fame inductee Agüero’s Premier League winning goal 10 years ago, Kompany added: “Chaos is the best way to describe that first title win. Balotelli was involved, obviously! “Sergio decided to have the worst game of the season up until that moment. He told me before the game, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got this’ but up until that moment he didn’t. Still, to this day
did.” I want to thank him for what he did. Premier League boss Masters said: “The latest additions to our Hall of Fame were all world-class players who helped define different eras of the Premier League with their unique skills.”