EDITIONS EXTRA! Newsletter
December 2020
An Editions Lifestyle Black History Month® Publication
Dr Patti Boulaye OBE
On Life Improvement
Nigerian born Patti Boulaye shot to fame in 1978 after winning the ITV talent show New Faces. She went on to have an illustrious career and was one of the leading Black British entertainers throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As well as having her own TV series - The Patti Boulaye Show, she became the face for Lux soap in Nigeria. Today, over 40 years later, Patti continues to entertain in her unique and glamorous style bringing to life a collection of songs by Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday in the ”…And Me” series which has toured the country. “Aretha and Me” is still on tour. Unknown to many, Patti has used her fame and fortune to nurture the young, old and everyone in between. In her kindred charitable spirit she talks to Editions about just one of her many projects:
Another Child Prodigy in our Midst Omari McQueen
is the youngest ever award winning vegan chef and CEO of Dipalicious. His new book Best Bites will be out on 7th January 2021. Omari, a keen advocate of healthy eating, already has his own Sunday morning tv show on CBBC and runs cooking workshops for children from home.
“LIFE” “Something people don’t know about me is that the study of human culture has been my hobby from a very young age. How we travel this journey called Life? For some reason I have spent over 50 years putting my heart and soul into learning life’s rules, forms and basic human nature. In my early teens I lived through a civil war, saw death, poverty, wealth, courage, foolishness, wickedness and kindness - learning life’s rules along the way. I’ve seen the power of words and thoughts in action. I’ve seen deceit and ignorance and have to conclude that life is simple but we complicate it.
With my unique life experiences to draw from, about 30 years ago I drifted into the role of Life Specialist a Life Improvement Teacher, helping and teaching people how to find their true selves; how to be comfortable in who they are; recognise their place in the world and live through life’s storms. I give my clients the coping mindset needed to navigate both good and bad times. I get a lot of joy seeing people happy, boosting their confidence, changing their lives into a balanced state of body, mind and spirit. God bless us one and all this Christmas.” Dr Patti Boulaye OBE, Hon. D, Arts & Ed is a Visiting Teaching Fellow for Middlesex University Business School Faculty of Professional & Social Sciences and the MD of Bipada Academy.
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Season’s Greetings from His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, CD High Commissioner for Jamaica The festive season is usually a time to come together with family and loved ones but for many of us, this will not be possible this year due to the ongoing restrictions as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This has truly been a challenging year for many of us. Yet, despite these challenges, we should not falter in our support and service to the less fortunate because this year, more than ever, they need all the help we can give.
I also hope that the festive season will be a time for you to rest, relax and reflect with grateful hearts, on all that you have accomplished throughout the year. May the Spirit of the season fill your homes and communities with joy and peace and may the New Year bring much happiness and hope for a brighter future. Have a joyful and safe festive season!
Duchess of Cornwall visits the Pepper Pot Centre
Photo courtesy of the
Pepper Pot Centre
The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Pepper Pot Centre in London’s Ladbroke Grove during Black History Month. The Pepper Pot Centre was founded in 1981 by Pansy Jeffrey, a Windrush generation activist, to provide a culturally sensitive drop-in centre for members of the elderly African Caribbean community. It offers, meals, care and advice promoting healthy ageing and independent living. HRH Queen Elisabeth II has visited the centre on two previous occasions. During the pandemic they have been providing virtual group activities and delivering hot meals to the members.
COVID-19 UK NHS hospitals wards are under immense pressure. Are we being adequately cared for? In the Black community, there is a long-held feeling of mistrust towards the NHS in spite of a history of Black key workers in the NHS since the Windrush era. Sadly, there are some reported instances of Black people going into hospital and not leaving. Are feelings of mistrust warranted? A recent UK Parliament report found that over 60% of black people do not believe their health is equally protected by the NHS compared to white people. In addition, black women in the UK are five times more likely than white women to die during childbirth. Unconscious bias, racism in the broader healthcare system and socioeconomic status are highlighted as the
reasons for the findings all of which discourage many black people from seeking timely treatment. The British Medical Association chair Dr Chaand
Nagpaul said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement has clearly demonstrated the importance of addressing health inequalities and racism in the UK and the NHS.” Considering, the NHS is the largest employer of Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in the country, calls for meaningful change are continuing. www.editionbhm.com
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Diabetes
Lifestyle Extra!
Milly M Loses 10 kilos in 6 Months
To follow up from our article in the main annual magazine* we have the lovely story of Milly M. She was alarmingly diagnosed as a pre-diabetic in 2019. Faced with the prospect of a life of medication along with all the potential complications that can accompany diabetes type 2, she wasted no time in following up her appointments through the NHS. She joined a Pre-diabetes Prevention Programme designed to facilitate and inform about lifestyle changes.
In a group setting she was inspired and encouraged as were other members of the group both by each other and the group leader and she set about altering her diet. Surprisingly enough, the changes were not as difficult nor as drastic as she had presumed. Altering food portions, substituting low calorie snacks such as popcorn instead of crisps, omitting chocolates and eating slow release carbohydrates helped her immensely. She introduced a regime of walking more instead of driving and within 6 months, through regular check-ups
and monitoring she was no longer pre-diabetic and her blood sugar levels were back to normal. Thanks to Milly M’s story The Editions Media team, although not diabetic, have adopted the principles and all we can say is that - we’re feeling a lot healthier! For further information on diabetes visit: www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/ diabetes-prevention Milly preferred not to disclose her full name. *editionbhm.com
November 2020 Black Plaque Honours Remembering their contributions to society, Nubian Jak’s Black Plaque Project recently honoured the late Errol Brown (1943-2015) and Fela Kuti (1938-1997) Errol Brown, born in Jamaica, was the lead singer of Hot Chocolate. A plaque was erected in his honour outside the RAK studios in London’s St Johns Wood. Hot Chocolate had a succession of popular hits throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Nigerian born Fela Kuti was best known for pioneering the Afrobeat. He was a forceful sociopolitical voice of the ‘70s and ‘80s gaining international recognition for his fusion of traditional highlife, salsa and calypso music with jazz and funk. The plaque is at Trinity Laban.
Stocking Filler Ideas! Made by Black businesses Royal Blue Mountain coffee
African Wax Print Pillow Cover £47
Enjoy a smooth flavoursome coffee after Christmas dinner. royalbluemountaincoffee.com
Add a breath of fresh air and vibrant colour to your home. Handmaid 100% cotton cushion covers. MAIDDesign on Etsy.com
£30-£40
Style In My DNA
£14.99
Discover 70 years of AfroCaribbean fashion history and trends in this celebrated coffee table book by fashion designer Lorna Holder. tuaregproductions.com
79 Lux Body Balm £46.00
Ultra all over after bath gold infused body balm. Jampacked with shea butter, essential oils and rose quartz this replenishing antiinflammatory is great for deep hydration. libertylondon.com
For the youngsters: The History of African & Caribbean Communities in Britain £5.99 Catch up on a bit of history. Available from Waterstones.
Mr Blackman’s Beard & Shave Kit
16.95
A handy travel kit for him. mrblackman.com
Líha Queen Idia Candle £32 Experience the beautiful aromas made from clean burning sustainable coconut wax blended with base notes of Geranium and Frankincense, top notes of Lavender and hibiscus. lihabeauty.com www.editionbhm.com
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Annual Windrush Caribbean Film Festival In spite of COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, the inaugural annual Windrush Caribbean Film Festival (WCFF) went ahead last month attracting virtual audiences from across the globe. The WCFF aimed to engage and educate audiences in cinemas and art venues across the UK about the contributions of the Windrush generation and its impact on the country through screenings, talkbacks and micro-cinema challenges. It certainly achieved that to a great degree albeit virtually. Over the six days of the 2020 Festival, audiences watched films and engaged in discussions from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Each screening was coupled with Q&A with major filmmakers, activists and actors.
It is hoped that next year’s event will include live screenings, circumstances allowing and will be launched on Windrush Day June 22nd 2021
Legacy of Leadership Jamaicans In Britain
100 Great Black Britons Children’s Competition
New Book!
With over 1000 entries submitted so far, there is still time to enter the competition.
A landmark book has been created to celebrate the Jamaican diaspora in the UK and the wonderful contributions they have made to British Society. Books will be available to purchase in the New Year. For further information or to order a copy write to: jamhigh@jhcuk.com
With plenty of aids and online resources available for research, you can access the competition entry form here: www.100greatblackbritons.co.uk/competition.html There will be prizes for the winners at each Key Stage level. See website for details. Closing date for the competition is 31st December 2020 and the winners will be announced in February 2021.
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Introducing
Buji & Baja ©
Editions Lifestyle Newsletters© are sponsored by the community for the community. Published by Editions Media Limited. Editor Joy Sigaud, Assistant Editors: Serena Lee, Marinella Franks, Sybil Kretzmer. We extend our thanks to all our contributors and sponsors. We disclaim any and all liabilities including damages or loss that may result from your use or misuse of this publication, its website or any of the content. No reproduction is permitted as a whole or in part without the written consent of the editor. All rights reserved. ISSN 2732-4435.
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