SEVERAL events have taken place across the UK as part of Black History Month and there are plenty of youngsters in Basingstoke who have been taking part.

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Samuel Nwachukwu moved from his native country Nigeria to England at 12 years old and seized the chance to develop his creative talents in after-school music lessons at Everest Community Academy.

Performing under the name CalledOut Music, the singer regularly sang at a church in Basingstoke and produced songs influenced by his Christian faith that continue to garner millions of views on YouTube and amasses over 13 million streams on Spotify. In 2020, the gospel artist achieved international success, as he scooped his first MOBO award.

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Following the release of his third studio album My Beautiful Reality CalledOut Music embarked on a worldwide tour, performing at headline shows in countries such as Canada, France, and Belgium this summer, and will conclude the tour in London on March 4, 2023.

Inspired by the rich flavours of South Korean cuisine while on holiday in the country, Chimwewe Ndhlovu decided to recreate her own version back in Basingstoke. Naming the business Chukzgrill – a play on words that honours her late father’s name Chikubabe and Korea’s love for barbeque-style food – the then 16-year-old offered private bookings for customers eager to taste and experience spicy treats on the grill at home, as restrictions eased in 2020.

With help from her older sisters and ensuring all health protocol was followed, the menu expanded its offering to include mouth-watering dishes like mac and cheese and smoky birria tacos available for delivery or collection – cooked in her mother’s kitchen.

Growing in popularity, the food business had the privilege of catering a jubilee party hosted by the Cultural Diversity Consortium in June that saw Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller and Mayor Cllr Paul Miller dig into traditional Zambian food.

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Currently on pause in order to focus on upcoming A-level exams, the 17-year-old is excited to reveal a new menu and will be receiving orders again next summer.

Dr. Emma Amoafo-Mensah is not only an alumnus of the prestigious Imperial College London but also attended Queen Mary’s College before graduating with distinctions in her medical degree. The Dermatology Registrar is a co-founder of a global platform – House of Medics that aims to provide guidance for those who are and aspire to be healthcare professionals.

Passionate about the renovation of Africa, Dr. Emma set up Friday Born Designs – a social enterprise that provides relief, charitable food donations, and health screening days to remote villages in her country of origin, Ghana.