AWP Magazine

14/11/2022

🗣 “Black people often get othered out of conversations and through both Blackout and Whiteout we wanted to show that normal black kids have normal teenage experiences.”

New York Times best-selling authors of “Blackout” and “Whiteout” spotlight the importance of celebrating Black love and joy in their latest winter-warming novel.

25/09/2022

Songwriter to the stars, record producer and singer Shy Carter () has spent a decade writing hits for some of the biggest names in music. Now he’s ready to make a name for himself.

Awallprintss’ sat down with Shy to explore this next chapter in his career. Full story online now.

22/09/2022

🗣 “Syrians and refugees, in general, are more than numbers - they are people. It's just that this [is their] situation, this is the way of the world right now. But the world keeps changing and maybe there will come a time when places are changed. So we have to have empathy for others because who knows what would happen to us? We would want someone to help us when we are down,” author Zoulfa says when asked about the one thing she wants people to know about Syrian refugees.

Canadian-Syrian author Zoulfa Katouh, who is based in Switzerland, talks to Awallprintss about taking on the monumental task of altering perceptions surrounding Syria through her debut novel As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow. Full story online now.

02/09/2022

💬 “I fear that, as a grandparent, I would have to remind the child about what the outside world is. I can't imagine what it's like now growing up in a world where you're surrounded by screens and the internet. I would always want a child to feel connected to the world around them and just know the benefits of that. I was very fortunate to have experiences in my childhood without screens where I felt great…like looking out of windows and sh*t.” Jordan Stephens on wisdom he hopes to impart on his future grandchildren.

The Rizzle Kicks star sat down with AWP, alongside illustrator Beth Suzanna, to delve into the the power of human connection, creating an anchor for children through his words and bringing more cultures to the book shelves.

Full story on Awallprintss.com now. 🗞

13/07/2022

🗣 “Things are changing, they haven't been changed,” Humza says on diversity in mainstream entertainment.

His career was birthed out of a realisation that he would likely be overlooked for the main character role because of his background and the colour of his skin. “That’s just how it was back then and I knew it,” he says.

“It’s almost a bit sad that I didn't feel I would get an equal opportunity so I had to resort to filming random stuff in my bedroom and making these sketches myself to live out my dream because I didn't think that was going to ever happen on mainstream TV,” he adds.

AWP sat down with the comedian, author & actor for a candid conversation on finding success in the mainstream without compromising his morals, challenging representation on screens and his latest children’s book. Read the full story on Awallprintss.com 👉

15/06/2022

“I have seen people who are way more talented then I am, I have seen people who are much sharper than I am but I never gave up.

“The only genius thing that I ever did was not give up, nothing else and that’s what you need to do.”

Awallprintss’ .qadhi sat down with megastar to discuss his ultimate purpose, sacrifices for success and breaking fresh ground as an Indian artist. Story online now. ✍🏽

13/06/2022

“My grandfather departed India for the U.K. as a hardworking immigrant in 1968.

His arrival came at a time when Great Britain was far from the tolerant place we know it to be today. In fact, the racism ran so rife that he was one of many to be given a token “English” name as his colleagues refused to attempt to pronounce his “foreign” one.

Albeit in a diluted form, I experienced my own form of scrutiny as a result of my “ambiguous” surname. I vividly remember being mocked by my school peers who strung together their own theories of what it could mean and the places I must’ve been. When you’re 11 and desperately navigating your place in the world, it is incredibly isolating.

Fortunately, outside the tumultuous walls of education, my family were always proud to emphasise our rich cultural history to my siblings and I. There was a desire to make sure we were proud of what that name meant, it was a signifier of all the sacrifices my grandparents had made to give us better opportunities.”

- .qadhix ✍🏽

🏷

13/06/2022

“My grandfather departed India for the U.K. as a hardworking immigrant in 1968.

His arrival came at a time when Great Britain was far from the tolerant place we know it to be today. In fact, the racism ran so rife that he was one of many to be given a token “English” name as his colleagues refused to attempt to pronounce his “foreign” one.

Albeit in a diluted form, I experienced my own form of scrutiny as a result of my “ambiguous” surname. I vividly remember being mocked by my school peers who strung together their own theories of what it could mean and the places I must’ve been. When you’re 11 and desperately navigating your place in the world, it is incredibly isolating.

Fortunately, outside the tumultuous walls of education, my family were always proud to emphasise our rich cultural history to my siblings and I. There was a desire to make sure we were proud of what that name meant, it was a signifier of all the sacrifices my grandparents had made to give us better opportunities.”
qadhix ✍🏽

🏷

14/04/2022

What advice would you give your younger self if you could? Awallprintss took to the streets of Zimbabwe to speak with millennials and GenZ about a whole host of topics but the first question is ‘what advice would you give to your younger self?’

18/03/2022

Having gone viral for a picture showing off her tattoo sleeve, Judge Shannon Frison has left thousands of people on the internet evaluating their own implicit bias. Some have responded to the picture outraged while most have applauded her for remaining 'authentic.'

From a young age, Judge Frison, now in her 50s, had identified law as her main area of interest and with dozens of accolades behind her, from holding a Major in the US Marine Corps to a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Centre, one would expect her journey to the top to be smooth sailing - however, it was anything but.

In fact, she has faced, like most minorities, discrimination and implicit bias and even criticism from her own community.

https://www.awallprintss.com/post/criminal-justice-usa-black-community

Black, LGBTQ+ with a tattoo sleeve. Judge Shannon Frison, who was the second Black female judge advocate in the United States Marine Corps b

01/03/2022

Here in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, the LGBTQ+ community has risen from the ashes of what they call state-sanctioned homophobia to fight for the realisation of LGBTQ+ rights in the country’s constitution – the largest civil rights movement the country has seen since apartheid.

https://www.awallprintss.com/post/lgbtq-namibia-government-africa

Here in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, the LGBTQ+ community has risen from the ashes of what they call state-sanctioned homophobia to fight for the realisation of LGBTQ+ rights in the country’s constitution – the largest civil rights movement the country has seen since apartheid. In 2021...

08/02/2022

"I don't want fame and fortune - I want to leave a legacy for my children," says photographer Brunel Johnson

The Kilburn-raised photographer has an adventurist and observational mindset that drives his practice; which spans candid street photography, commercial sports, lifestyle and documentary.

He described Black joy as being "a spiritual thing because regardless of how difficult life gets there's always something that makes us smile" before quickly admitting that 2020 and subsequently 2021 were filled with trauma and pain for his community.

"My goal as a photographer is to change the narrative that surrounds Black and minority ethic communities. I want to change how we’re shown in the media and how our stories are told. So I strive to bring out the stories that I believe the world needs to hear and see without tainting it from a biased gaze."

Full story and Q&A can be found through the link in the bio.

05/02/2022

Almost 3 Years On, This Cyclone Idai Survivor Is Still Living In A Camp And Waiting To Be Relocated

Sitting inside a makeshift shed next to the canvas tent he has called home for the past thirty months, Sugate Takarwira, 42, watches his chickens closely. He tells Awallprintss that the chickens have become a newly found life sustenance project.

“Those vehicles are here to collect the last batch of landlords not us the lodgers, no one has told us what will happen to us and when so we just sit tight,” he says.




https://www.awallprintss.com/post/cyclone-idai-survivor-zimbabwe-africa

Families sat around almost worn-out tents mark the scenes at Aboratum Camp, in Chimanimani, the last one of three temporary holding camps for Cyclone Idai survivors. I visited the camp to interview a survivor, who lost one of his children, during the storm.

17/12/2021

We recently worked with charity Carmelite Prisoners' Interest Organization (CAPIO Nigeria) and Ambrose Ekeroku to tell the stories of those that have suffered at the hands of Nigeria's prison system. In a prison population of almost 70,000, more than 50,000 Nigerians are said to be awaiting trial with many having spent years on remand.

Spending longer awaiting trial than the maximum sentence for a crime violates the most basic legal protections guaranteed to a Nigerian citizen and yet it's been happening for years.

While some have been sent to a pre-trial detention centre for minor crimes - such as stealing bread - others like Precious have been locked up simply because their family members had enough money to pay off the judge.

"What I experienced was real, I am real, they need to know,” said Precious, a victim of Nigeria’s criminal justice system, where the poor and marginalized are often jailed for years - sometimes decades - for no crime at all. While the rich are protected, released, and able to relish.

She spoke over the phone on WhatsApp from an undisclosed location in Nigeria. We figured it would be best to avoid mentioning where exactly she is based for the sake of her safety.

Much like many other countries in the African continent - it’s not unusual to have those found speaking against the government or law enforcement kidnapped, beaten, or even killed.

https://www.awallprintss.com/post/nigeria-prison-inmates-human-rights

"What I experienced was real, I am real, they need to know,” said Precious, a victim of Nigeria’s criminal justice system, where the poor and marginalised are often jailed for years - sometimes decades - for no crime at all. While the rich are protected, released, and able to relish.

09/11/2021

When Tapera Mhandu, 24, left rehab five years ago after a long battle with drug addiction, he was determined to stay clean.

Hooked onto dangerous substances at just 19-years-old, he spent a gruelling three months in rehab where he had his damascene moment - he finally saw the light.

https://www.awallprintss.com/post/series-driven-by-passion-these-people-help-youths-fight-drug-addiction-in-zimbabwe

When Tapera Mhandu, 24, left rehab five years ago after a long battle with drug addiction, he was determined to stay clean. Hooked onto dangerous substances at just 19-years-old, he spent a gruelling three months in rehab where he had his damascene moment - he finally saw the light. By Emmanuel Kafe...

27/09/2021

“We’re beyond visibility politics.”

Looking back at this important series by titled ‘Being Muslim In the industry’

This is the second part of their conversation with London based photographers and their experiences. Full video on their page.

Featuring: .snaps .ibrahim

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15/09/2021

“ I don’t want fame and fortune, I want a legacy for my children”

Kilburn-raised photographer, Brunel Johnson, has an adventurist and observational mindset that drives his practice; which spans candid street photography, commercial sports, lifestyle and documentary

His interview with us is part one of our ‘Behind The Lens’ series

Johnson speaks candidly on his rise from being a mathematics student to a published photographer working for top outlets.

But Johnson doesn’t shy away speaking on the challenges he’s faced working in mainstream media

All copyright Brunel Johnson ©