This new publication profiles the male leaders of London’s black creative community

Date
6 September 2017

Meet your boys, brothers and friend; the men propping up all corners of London’s creative community and redefining the diasporic self in the process.

Shot by Mehdi Lacoste, styled by KK Obi, cast by Troy Fearn and Mischa Notcutt, with set design by Louis Gibson, makeup by Afrolion and hair by Virginie Morriera, “bookzine” Boy.Brother.Friend from global media brand Nataal goes on sale this week at Dalston-based concept store LN-CC. Bursting loudly from the magazine’s pages are the individuals making London tick; filmmaker and DJ Akinola Davies JR, photographer and Nii Journal founder Campbell Addy, Royal Ballet soloist Eric Underwood, NTS founder Femi Adeyemi, shoe designer Richard Braqo, musician Jay Boogie, writer and DJ Kareem Reid, model Maximilian Davies, stylist and illustrator Jermaine Ampomah and many, many more.

Nataal’s editorial director Helen Jennings comments: “United we stand. That’s the message delivered loud and clear by the individuals who have lined up together here for Nataal. These young men are among those leading the way within the black creative community in London​ ​and​ ​its​ ​sister​ ​cities,​ ​whose​ ​work​ ​is​ ​helping​ ​to​ ​define​ ​new​ ​diaspora​ ​identities.

“Whether working in music, fashion, dance, activism, visual arts or media, they are channelling their own diverse cultural experiences and unique points of view into positively articulating an inclusive representation of​ ​black​ ​selfhood.​ ​And​ ​having​ ​a​ ​damn​ ​good​ ​time​ ​in​ ​the​ ​process. With roots across Africa, the Caribbean and beyond, yet currently planted in the diaspora, their contemporary storytelling represents not only a generational shift in ideas and attitudes but is also creating new spaces for collaboration​ ​and​ ​exchange.​ ​And​ ​that,​ ​of​ ​course,​ ​is​ ​when​ ​the​ ​magic​ ​happens.”

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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Boy.Brother.Friend

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About the Author

Bryony Stone

Bryony joined It's Nice That as Deputy Editor in August 2016, following roles at Mother, Secret Cinema, LAW, Rollacoaster and Wonderland. She later became Acting Editor at It's Nice That, before leaving in late 2018.

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