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MARCH 2026 • ISSUE NO. 1976

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Caribbean food goes centre stage How two entrepreneurs are claiming the culinary spotlight ›› p28

Celebrating our women

Special Edition

30 YEARS. ONE BOLD VISION EXCLUSIVE Kanya King speaks to The Voice about building the iconic MOBO Awards into a global cultural force

AS THE MOBO Awards celebrates its 30th anniversary, founder Kanya King reveals in an exclusive interview how a sense of purpose helped her propel

Black music into the mainstream, built pathways that didn’t previously exist and why influence is about access not fame. ›› p32

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MOBO Awards visionary Kanya King has helped UK Black music gain global recognition

Inside THIS MONTH

The Voice says

ROUNDUP

News, views, stories & videos

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

‘More than one path to motherhood’: one woman’s Journey through fertility loss and surrogacy

Meet the woman bridging the funding gap for Black communities

Stop chasing validation: the quiet authority of choosing yourself

A continent ascending: the women powering Africa’s next chapter

What happens when paradise is polluted? One woman’s climate reckoning

Five sporting pioneers lighting the way for young women

Honouring Black women means confronting inequality

NTERNATIONAL Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month are rightly moments of celebration. They honour the political, cultural and social contributions of women whose labour has too often been erased. But for Black women in Britain, these commemorations must also be moments of reckoning. Black women have always been architects of change in this country, from the Windrush generation who built communities and public services, to today’s entrepreneurs, creatives and campaigners. Yet their leadership remains undervalued and their expertise routinely questioned. Statistics tell a sobering story. Black women are overrepresented in low-paid roles, underrepresented in senior leadership, and more likely to experience workplace discrimination. They are frequently subjected to disproportionate scrutiny and abuse when they do step into positions of power. In this month’s edition of The Voice, Brent East MP Dawn Butler reflects on that reality with striking clarity. Charting the slow progress of ethnic minority representation in Parliament, from Diane Abbott’s historic 1987 election to becoming the first African-Caribbean woman government minister herself, Butler highlights how far we have

This issue is 40 pages EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

come, but also how far we have yet to travel. Despite record diversity in 2024, minority ethnic women remain underrepresented and disproportionately abused online. Visibility, it seems, still comes at a cost. Inequality is equally stark in healthcare. In her monthly column, Dr Julie Hammond spotlights the persistent disparities Black women face in hormone health. They are underrepresented in research, less likely to receive timely diagnoses, and often denied evidence-based treatments such as HRT. These are not marginal oversights; they are systemic failures that affect quality of life. International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month provide vital platforms to surface these truths. But hashtags and panel discussions are not enough. If these occasions are to mean anything, they must drive policy change, investment in Black women-led initiatives, and a serious commitment to dismantling racial and gender inequities. Honouring Black women requires more than celebrating resilience. It demands that we confront the structures that make such resilience necessary and commit, collectively, to building a society where Black women are not just visible, but truly valued.

HISTORY MAKER: Barbados PM Mia Mottley

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Institutional racism allegations rock top London Psychotherapy body

Charges against Black man dropped after he used N-word with Black police officer Grenada launches landmark ‘diaspora homecoming’ to spark collaboration and reconnection

The Caribbean and Africa unite to push for transatlantic slave trade to be declared ‘the greatest crime against humanity’

Racial inequalities in education under the spotlight as Black parents gather for community discussions

The Black life Britain chose not to remember: The campaign to commemorate Clinton McCurbin exposes how deaths in police custody are erased from public memory Exhibition celebrates Bath’s Caribbean Community

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Hair extensions cancer fears grow after scientists find they are linked to dozens of hazardous chemicals History for Barbados…as Mia Mottley wins historic third term as Prime Minister Father of 16-year-old boy, who was fatally stabbed, says he was “hard worker with big dreams”

Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk ADVERTISING AND SALES E. advertising@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

NEWS DESK E. newsdesk@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

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MARCH 2026 THE VOICE | 3

Celebrating Women

News

‘YOUNG PEOPLE NEED POWER, PURPOSE AND PROTECTION’ After the devastating murder of a young man, Pryncess Bignell has turned her grief into action By Vic Motune

“

OSING Keelen broke something in all of us,” says Pryncess Bignell. “It was more than grief. It was a harsh reminder of how fragile life is for our young people.” In 2023, 22-year-old Keelen Wong was fatally stabbed on Brixton’s busy Coldharbour Lane. His death sent shockwaves through the local community. For Bignell, who has a 20-year professional background working with children and families, Keelen’s death was transformative. “You start to think about the conversations that never happened. The support that never came. The spaces that didn’t exist in time,” she reflects. “It made everything feel urgent.” Out of that urgency came Podxparty, a youth-led community organisation founded by Bignell to give young people something she believes too many are denied: a voice. But the seeds of Podxparty were planted even before tragedy struck. “Podxparty came from a place of both pain and purpose,” she explains. “I was surrounded by young people who were incredibly talented, full of personality, full of ideas — but they didn’t feel seen. They didn’t feel heard. I carry Keelan’s memory and every other young person we’ve lost before their time in everything we do.” She recalls her frustration at how often young people are portrayed. “I was exasperated hearing the way community often demonised young people, making them feel ostracised and alien-

ated. I was desperate to bridge a gap of understanding, reigniting the connection between young people and their village.” At the same time, Bignell was finding her own voice through media and podcasting. “I knew first hand how powerful it is when someone gives you space to speak and doesn’t judge you,” she says. “Podxparty started as my way of giving that feeling to others. It wasn’t about creating an event. It was about creating somewhere young people could breathe, be themselves, and feel like they mattered.” What began as a small idea has grown into a movement that has engaged more than 1,000 young people in just over 12 months. Launched in south London but welcoming youth from across the capital and beyond, Podxparty brings together young people often divided by postcodes rivalry. Bignell has made it a priority to work with similar organisations. Two other youth organisations, south London-based Masters Social Group south and 21 Up from Essex are strong supporters of Podxparty. One of its most successful partnerships was with U-turnships, a CIC based in Grays, Essex, that offers a range of services for young people in October 2024. U-turnships brought young people from its local area togeth-

ROYALLY RECOGNISED: Main, Pryncess Bignell (third from the left) with Podx party members; left, at the heart of Podx party is conversation where Bignell (holding the mic) and young people tackle issues that matter most to them (photos: supplied)

er with Podxparty members at Thameside Theatre for a powerful theatre production which tackled issues such as stop and search, racism, violence against women and girls, peer-on-peer bullying, substance abuse and mental health. Recalling Podxparty’s first event, she remembers watching young people step up to a microphone for the first time, an experience that strengthened her conviction about why the organisation was important.

“Hands shaking, voice nervous… and by the end, they didn’t want to put it down” she recalls. “That moment stayed with me. Because it wasn’t just a mic. It was power.” The organisation has also hosted live youth podcast events at The Brickstone in Brixton and Wembley Boxpark, alongside family fun days, summer cookouts, music showcases and football tournaments. Mental health underpins a lot of the work Bignell does with those who attend events “I’ve seen what silence does to

young people,” she says. “I’ve seen how easily they’re labelled instead of understood. How quickly they’re dismissed instead of supported. And I’ve seen how much they carry inside.” With poor mental health “rife among our youth”, Podxparty provides emotional support, including access to an in-house counsellor. Many attendees have been labelled “hard to reach” or attend alternative provision schools. “Many young people are on constant high alert,” she says. “When you provide safety, you allow them to relax and just be young people.” As founder and CEO, the work is relentless. “I’m on call 24/7, 365.

I literally have no days off and I am here for the young people day and night,” she says. Self-funded and at times discouraged by those who viewed young people as “too far gone”, she presses on. “We prove them wrong at every event.” Looking ahead, Bignell’s vision is bold. “In five years, I see Podxparty with its own permanent home. A place where young people can walk in any day and know they belong. A place that feels safe. A place that changes lives every single day. Not just in London. Everywhere.” l To find out more you can visit: @ podxparty on Instagram or @podxpartyyouth on TikTok

Bristol makes sure Paul Stephenson’s name is never forgotten

LEGACY: Paul Stephenson

THE PAUL STEPHENSON Lecture, one of the UK’s leading platforms for race equality, will be permanently hosted in Bristol from November 2026, marking its tenth anniversary and honouring the legacy of civil rights campaigner Paul Stephenson. The announcement follows the formal handover of the lecture from equality charity Diversity UK to Bristol-based social enterprise Curiosity UnLtd. Organisers say the move strengthens Bristol’s ambition

to establish itself as the UK’s “Civil Rights Capital” by 2029. Stephenson, who died in November 2024, was best known for leading the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, a protest against a colour bar operated by the Bristol Omnibus Company. The boycott is widely credited with helping to pave the way for the UK’s first Race Relations Act in 1965. Over decades, Stephenson also campaigned on housing,

policing and public services, and was awarded an OBE in 2009 for services to equal opportunities. “Bringing the Paul Stephenson Lecture back to Bristol reflects both its origins and its future purpose,” said Lopa Patel MBE, Chair of Diversity UK. “At a moment of renewed national attention on race equality, we welcome Curiosity UnLtd’s commitment to developing the lecture as a space for public accountability rooted in the city where this history

was made.” Julz Davis, founder of Curiosity UnLtd, added: “The Paul Stephenson Lecture is more than a civic challenge. “Sixty years on from the Race Relations Act 1965, with a new Race Equality Act on the horizon, the question is: how will it change lives for good? And how do we ensure the Bus Boycott acts as a catalyst for generational equality in schools, pay, leadership, and interactions with the police?”

4 | THE VOICE MARCH 2026

News Feature

Celebrating Women

WHEN BECOMING A MOTHER TAKES A DIFFERENT PATH

Fisiwe Muvirimi recounts her journey to becoming a mother through surrogacy, a path which is rarely discussed in the Black community, confronting stigma and uncertainty before the longawaited arrival of her daughter

N MANY families, motherhood is spoken about as if it follows one clear path: pregnancy, birth, baby. However, for many women, the journey is not that straightforward. In 2018, my husband and I were advised by a gynaecologist that the best chance of having a child would be through surrogacy. Prior to this devastating news, I had undergone investigative scans and tests which revealed that I had developed extensive scar tissue in my uterus and a thin endometrium lining. This was all attributed to my history of having undergone three fibroid surgeries. Although I subsequently underwent a hysteroscopy surgery to remove the scar tissue, and took oestrogen to increase my uterine lining, this did not appear to make a significant difference. As a result, I was advised that trying to conceive naturally would be challenging and that if we were to go through IVF, there was a high chance that I would experience recurrent implantation failure. Furthermore, even if I were to fall pregnant, I was made aware that I would not be able to carry a baby to full term and would also be at a high risk of experiencing a ruptured uterine. The consultant strongly recommended we consider surrogacy.

and continue to be stigmatised. My husband and I confided in our immediate family members who were immensely supportive, but nothing could have prepared us for the emotional, financial, mental and social challenges we were going to experience on this journey. We considered applying to join the Surrogacy UK organisation, but due to the long waiting times to be accepted at the time, we chose alternative options.

The surrogacy journey After much research and consideration, including attending a surrogacy event in London, where they had hosted gynaecology consultants from various clinics such as the USA, Cyprus, Greece and Ukraine, we decided to embark on a surrogacy journey with a clinic in Greece. Gestational surrogacy is the The moment when journey we embarked on where the everything changed surrogate carries the embryo and Receiving this news was one of the she is not genetically linked to the worst days of our lives. My mind baby. This required going through was clouded by a range of emotions IVF using our eggs and sperm, and from overwhelming distress and four embryos were created and sadness to shock and confusion. subsequently frozen. I felt frustrated with my body and We were introduced to our surroexperienced deep and profound gate for the first time in June 2020, grief for the loss of my inability to and this was one of the highlights of carry a child. our journey. We had not known of anyone The moment was a mixed bag that had gone through IVF let alone of emotions as we felt nervous, surrogacy. I desperately searched anxious and excited all at the same online for stories similar to ours time. and for support to help me come to terms with the diagnosis. When hope feels fragile However, I had difficulty findTwo embryos were transferred to ing any sources of support that I our surrogate at the initial transfer, resonated with and where I felt but unfortunately this ended in a represented as a Black woman. miscarriage after four weeks. Sadly, in Black communities, At the second attempt, one reproductive health and fertility embryo was transferred but it failed issues are not spoken about freely to implant. Both attempts delivered

PRECIOUS: Fisiwe Muvirimi, above, holds her daughter shortly after her birth, a moment she describes as ‘surreal’ a severe blow to any hopes of a successful pregnancy. When the final embryo was transferred, months later, the two-week wait for results was a stressful time. We were elated when we received a positive pregnancy result but remained cautiously excited given the previous failed attempts. The day our baby arrived On 24th February 2022 was the birth of our precious baby girl. It was a surreal moment. Beautiful memories of holding her in my arms for the first time, feeling her warm body against my chest, hearing her breathing and feeling her heartbeat, will forever be imprinted in my heart. Fertility challenges are more common than we openly discuss. Yet in our communities, these conversations are often whispered, if they happen at all. If you are considering surrogacy,

THE WARMEST OF EMBRACES: Fisiwe Muvirimi with her surrogate looks different. Motherhood has adoption, donor conception, or more than one door. another path to parenthood but Hesitation is natural. Cultural feel hesitant, know this: you are not expectations, faith, family opinions “less than” because your journey and fear of judgment can weigh If you are heavily. You may wonder, what will peosay? You may struggle with grief considering ple over the path you imagined. Both at the same time as hope. another path canIf exist you are exploring surrogacy or to parenthood, alternative options, seek accurate information. Speak to a fertility speyou are not “less cialist. Understand UK legal frameworks around surrogacy. Connect than” because with reputable organisations and support groups. Knowledge brings your journey clarity and confidence. The Fertility Network UK Black Women’s Group looks different. is a tremendous source of support. Just as important is protecting Motherhood has your mental health. This journey can stir grief, shame and isolation. more than one Therapy, coaching, faith leaders trusted community spaces can door and provide grounding and strength.

There is no single definition of motherhood. It is not measured solely by biology, but by love, nurture and presence. Your story, however it unfolds, is valid. In sharing it, you may give another woman permission to hope, to breathe and to choose the path that brings her peace. Also remember that your selfworth is not predicated on your ability to conceive or carry a baby. l If you would like more infor-

mation about surrogacy you can contact the Black Women’s Group at Fertility Network UK, via email: blackwomensgroup@ fertilitynetworkuk.org l Fisiwe Muvirimi is a physiotherapist who delivers specialist workshops on pelvic health to support women with reproductive health conditions or challenges. You can reach her at: fisiweguga@ gmail.com

FEBRUARY 2026

THE VOICE | 5