The Voice Media Group

Meet Rasta Rolla, aka Robert O.N. Torto who’s bringing joy and style on his penny-farthing By day, Torto works as a senior civil engineer in the transport sector, but says riding the iconic 1870s-1880s bicycle has given him a new sense of purpose. Speaking to the Voice he said: “It just brings joy to people’s faces” “When Black parents with their children spot me, there is amazement and joy in seeing this Black man riding a penny-farthing in London.” In addition to the day job and riding, Torto took a year off work to pursue his long-held ambition of writing children’s books. His first book focuses on Walter Tull, the pioneering footballer of African-Caribbean heritage, titled Walter Tull Was Never Dull. After struggling to secure a publishing deal, Torto launched his own company, Rasta Rolla Books. ➡️ Read the full feature: https://lnkd.in/e_XY8Qr2

Ian Thomas CBE named Britain’s most influential Black person on #Powerlist2027 The City of London Corporation chief executive and the son of Windrush migrants says he hopes his historic achievement will open doors for the next generation of Black leaders. Shirin Aguiar reports Thomas, who is the Corporation’s Town Clerk and Chief Executive, said he was “deeply honoured and humbled” by the recognition, but was keen to stress that it was about more than his own achievements. “I see it less as a personal accolade and more as recognition of the people, teams and communities who have shaped and supported me throughout my life,” he said. “I’m a true believer that none of us succeeds alone. With recognition comes responsibility.” The Powerlist 2027 Top 10: Ian Thomas CBE – Town Clerk and Chief Executive, City of London Corporation Comfort Ero – President and CEO, International Crisis Group Grace Ononiwu CBE – Director General of Legal Delivery, Crown Prosecution Service Emma Grede – CEO and Co-Founder, Good American; Founding Partner, SKIMS Pamela Maynard OBE – Chief AI Transformation Officer, Microsoft MCAPS Steven Bartlett – Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Josh Siaw MBE – Partner, White & Case Sir Idris Elba – Actor, filmmaker and philanthropist; Chairman, IE7 and Akuna Group Ije Nwokorie – Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martens PLC Ola Fashade - Air Vice-Marshal ➡️ Read full report here: https://lnkd.in/edFngHTG

Singer Beverley Knight and actor Zawe Ashton have joined MPs, celebrities, Oxford academics and student organisations in calling on Oriel College to cancel an event featuring self-described “race realist” Nathan Cofnas on 17 November. The open letter was initiated by Oxford Students’ Coalition Against Racism and is supported by Stand Up to Racism and Black Lives Matter. It opposes the event “Is DEI Undermining Higher Education?”, organised by the Oxon Universities’ Reform Society. The open letter states: "We, the undersigned, oppose the Oxford University Reform UK Society’s invitation to Nathan Cofnas to speak at Oriel College on 17 November, at an event titled “Is DEI Undermining Higher Education?” "Cofnas is not simply a critic of diversity policy" "He is a self-described “race realist” who argues that genes contribute to racial group differences in intelligence" Signatories include Diane Abbott , Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Professor (Hon) Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS Misan Harriman and Afua Hirsch alongside UCU’s Jo Grady and the NEU’s Daniel Kebede. Oxford academics and student organisations have also signed. The letter calls for cancellation of the event and a demonstration in opposition if it does go ahead. ➡️ Read full update on the Voice website

Professor (Hon) Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS has been appointed chair of NHS Race and Health Observatory as he pledges to tackle longstanding racial inequalities in healthcare. Sir Patrick brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across public health, race equality, and community development to the role. He joins the independent organisation established by the NHS in 2021 to identify and tackle inequalities experienced in health and healthcare by Black and minority ethnic patients, communities and the workforce in England. Commenting on the appointment, Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, chair of the NHS Alliance, said: “Patrick Vernon is the right person to lead the next phase of that work. He has spent his career understanding how systems serve — and how they fail — the communities the RHO exists to protect. I am confident he will take the Observatory forward with the independence, the ambition and the integrity that the role demands.” Sir Patrick said: ”I am honoured to be appointed chair.... Now is the pivotal time to address racial disparities, anti-racism and tackle long-standing health inequalities which continue to impact our communities, patients and colleagues.” ➡️ Read full update on the Voice website: https://lnkd.in/emANy2i4

Heavy Weight boxing champion Daniel Dubois and England football ace Michelle Agyemang were among the winners at this week’s Best of Africa Awards (BoA)✨✨ Held at The Peninsula London under the theme of ‘Unity’ the awards honours excellence across sport, music, and philanthropy. Speaking to the Voice sports editor Rodney Hinds, Dubois said: “It’s been years of hard work, control and discipline. I’m thankful to all of my team. I'll be back fighting in February.” Michelle Agyemang received the BoA x PFA Beyond The Pitch Award presented by the PFA’s Simone Pound. Other awardees included a posthumous tribute to Mobo Awards founder King CBE and Johnny Moko with the Ubuntu Award. Baroness June Sarpong OBE received the Unity Award. ✨✨ Philanthropist Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.✨✨ Photographer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Misan Harriman received the Advocacy for Change Award. ✨✨ ➡️ For full list of awardees, read update online: https://lnkd.in/eqcgDZA3 #BestofAfricaAwards #Unity

Community campaign calls for GCSEs in African and Caribbean languages Barrister Ife Thompson is urging exam boards to recognise Black students’ heritage languages, from Yoruba and Swahili to Jamaican Patois, through formal qualifications Thompson is calling on UK exam boards to end the structural exclusion of African language families and Afro-descendant Creoles and Pidgins from the GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum. Thompson said: “The decision by exam boards to only exclude African and Afro-descendant language families from the GCSE curriculum, while all other languages from the world’s language families are included, is a form of institutionalised anti-Black linguistic racism. By Sinai Fleary ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ex_2Prcc

OUT TODAY - The Voice Newspaper November Issue 2026! ✨ 📰 Britain’s only Black national newspaper brings you 48 pages of news, features, commentary and more. - A ‘sneak peak’ into this issue: ➡️ Grammy award-winning reggae artist Beenie Man calls for Jamaica to mobilise and protect access to their beaches - by Joel Campbell ➡️ Reparations Conference: MPs and campaigners are pressing for a parliamentary inquiry with Black communities at the heart of a campaign – by Vic Motune ➡️ The Power of One: ACLT charity celebrate 30 years as they aim to continue their vital work ➡️ The Black Heroes Foundation celebrates 10 Years and honours Flip Fraser, the first editor of The Voice Newspaper ➡️Who cares for the women who care for everyone says registered mental health nurse Mina Cookey ➡️ CEO of the BCA Black Cultural Archives, Dr Wanda Wyporska, FRHistS says the fight for better education runs through our history ➡️ In Lifestyle: The work of William Greaves - reintroducing audiences to a Black filmmaker with a huge contribution to cinema - by Matthew Barrington ➡️ In Sport: Damian Hall shares an update on Formula 1 return to Africa And much more... 📍 Available in selected UK stores or order online: https://lnkd.in/ejvkdQJJ

From bus conductor to Manchester’s highest civic office After arriving in the city in 1958 Roy Walters made history as its first Caribbean heritage Lord Mayor while opening doors for others in his community By Sinai Fleary ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eXehzx_4

Little Baobab, an award-winning Senegalese restaurant, is fighting for its future after the closure of the Africa Centre in Southwark. 🇸🇳🇸🇳🇸🇳 Reported to be the only restaurant in London serving authentic Senegalese cuisine, Little Baobab began as a series of pop-ups with live music in East London. Owner, founder and chef Khadim Mane has run Little Baobab for 10 years. Speaking to The Voice, he said: “Little Baobab has been through lots of phases: pop-ups, catering, festivals, a street food stall in Peckham and then our full restaurant at the Africa Centre. I always focus on bringing my community together and use my restaurant and events to showcase Senegalese musicians, drummers, dancers and storytellers.” “We are in a really hard situation due to the sudden and unexpected closure, and we are calling on our community to support us. "I think it’s really important to have Senegalese representation in the London food scene and I am committed to continuing the Little Baobab journey.” He has launched a crowdfunder to raise £50,000, and £8,865 has been raised so far. ➡️ If you would like to donate: https://lnkd.in/eJfp8aeW ➡️ Read full update on the Voice: https://lnkd.in/egX5YJjM #littlebaobab #senegaleserestaurant

#EXCLUSIVE! 🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸 The Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (EABIC) will be organising a protest in The Bahamas as King Charles arrives for his royal Autumn Tour Speaking exclusively to The Voice, Honourable Priest Rithmond McKinney, the official representative of the EABIC in The Bahamas, said: “We know that King Charles, the British Monarch, is coming out and it important that we continue to lobby and protest against colonialism and imperialism. “We are asking for a full apology and for proper arrangement and dialogue when it comes to reparations for people of Africa and African descent, especially those of us in the diaspora who was taken away illegally against our will through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.” “We have to continue our work” He told The Voice, the EABIC, members of the wider Rastafari community and “likeminded people of African descent” will all be coming together to attend the protest. ➡️ Read full exclusive by Sinai Fleary online: https://lnkd.in/eszyRHgr #reparations #protest🇧🇸🇧🇸🖤💛❤️💚