Meet GUAP’s Top 30, Under 30 Black Creatives & Professionals You Need To Know For Blacklist 2020 [@Converse]

Beverley Tuofor – @tobefootwear

Beverley Tuofor is the Founder of Tobe Footwear. The first collection came out in 2018 when Beverley put her creative ideas together for the love of good quality shoes. Growing up in London, sneakers were a big part of her life. Recognizing both a challenge and an opportunity, she followed her vision of creating and sourcing unique shoes. Beverly told GUAP, “A good pair of shoes says a lot about a person- Good shoes mean good manners.” Tobe Footwear wants everybody to be able to experience the feeling of true quality-footwear while maintaining affordable prices.

Detroit Dyer-Miller – @bydrt

Detroit Dyer-Miller is a London-based graphic designer who’s work takes you into a whole new world. Detroit told GUAP, “I am an artist, multidisciplinary designer, model, and director from NW London. I’ve been designing for over five years now, started my career by creating social media branding for friends and YouTubers when I was 14, and then moved on to creating cover artwork and visuals for my favourite musicians while building my brand using everything I had learned. Even though I’m nowhere near where I want to be yet, I aim to be able to use my journey so far as a sort of example, to show other young, talented black boys who are creatively inclined that their interests aren’t something to put on a backburner and belittle. In the next year, I want to set up something that provides people like me with the opportunities I wish I had to be able to believe in their skills and put them to use.”.

Oye 2.0 – @oye2.0

Oye 2.0 are a directing duo (cousins). Based in Milton Keynes, both boys studied in the states (Finance & Communications) and have grown up around the world, resulting in the global culture being the root of their inspiration. 2.0 pride themselves on their creativity and execution. They have worked on various projects with brands such as Adidas, Philip Plein, and BBC. In 2020 they began shooting music videos and have shot for RnB artists KVNG and Shae Universe. As they develop, they plan on venturing into Film and TV, both directing and writing.

Iman Lake – @chillforme

Iman Lake was a clear choice for The Blacklist 2020 when he released a comic book promoting his music, ranging between hip hop/rap and alternative rock. The comic has inependantly sold out the three times it’s been released and is on its way to selling out for a fourth time. The comic book Stranger Days may have initially served as an advertisement but proved the want and demand for black people’s representation in comic books. Iman told GUAP, “I’m driven by the translation of my perspective, experiences, and emotions into all forms of art. This is primarily music, but I also use the videos, comic books, paintings, and screenplays I create and collaborate on to communicate and connect with whoever takes it in. I hope to inspire and influence the next generations with my work, in the same way, the generations that have come before have influenced and inspired me”. 

Iman Leila – @imanleila

Iman Leila is a PR & Influencer manager who had launched Lima Communications. This black female-owned agency takes much-needed space in the PR industry and currently represents brands like Vitae London and The Glow Pot. Iman told GUAP, “Having worked in the PR industry, across fashion and beauty for five years; I recently started my agency called Lima Communications. Some of my achievements before launching my agency was launching Lime Crime and Beauty Bakerie in Selfridges. I also helped with the launch of Fenty in Boots. Alongside now running my agency, I run a mentoring programme for black women that want to get into PR and Marketing. So You Want To has partnered with Estee Lauder, Chalk PR, Schwarzkopf, and Monty PR to give girls internships and mentoring opportunities.” 

Jojo Sonubi – @theresnosignal

No Signal was a station born out of a global pandemic. Before Covid:19 restriction measures, Jojo Sonubi and his brother David were well known amongst their peers for creating the Recess Parties. However, when events such as this were cancelled due to lockdown. Jojo Sonubi began a live stream that would become a new and top-rated media event, known as No Signal, which features a collaboration of young DJs, presenters, and curators brought together by Jojo Sonubi. During a year that has hit the events industry incredibly hard, Jojo has proven the cultural impact music has on society right now and the importance of it. Jojo told GUAP, “I’d say I love turning dreams into reality. I’m driven by the challenge to turn these dreams into things that’ll last for a long time”. 

Josh Akapo – @archtypeuk

Josh Akapo is the co-founder (leading accounts & strategy) of creative agency archtype – moving at the pace of culture in merch, design, and digital – helping facilitate impactful moments for Lovebox Festival, Stormzy, DLT, and more. Josh does innovative research & insights at Hype Collective, a student marketing agency that works with brands like Co-op, Adobe, and Monster. Josh is also a part of youth mentoring not-for-profit Joined-Up Thinking as their comms & marketing director. He’s helped curate projects helping young Black people to stand out and reach their potential, working with NHS Blood & Transplant, 23red agency, and local authorities. Josh cares deeply about the advancement of young people and showcasing important moments coming from culture. Josh told GUAP, “My purpose drives me, and that is simply put as “to help people.” It’s that simple; with everything I do, whether it be helping roll out a mentoring programme at Hype Collective, raising awareness about Organ Donation, or showcasing marginalised voices with Joined-Up Thinking. I love seeing people I’ve mentored, plugged, connected, or helped in any way do well. Their talent and success drive me to do the same thing again and again.”

Kia Commodore – @penniestopoundspod

Kia Commodore is the Pennies to Pounds platform’s creator, a social media-based platform seeking to make financial literacy easy and understandable. Pennies to Pounds was created to empower people by enabling them to shape their future with complete knowledge of how to do it. Kia is a very insightful and impactful voice in the finance space, steering young people in the direction of having more control over their finances. Kia told GUAP, “What drives me is the desire to learn and improve constantly. I am always working to improve my skills and help others in ways that best suit them. My idea of success is constantly evolving, and I love the growth journey that I’m currently on”. 

Lavinya Stennett – @theblackcurriculum

Lavinya Stennett is an educational activist, writer/historian and the founder and CEO The Black Curriculum. Lavinya told GUAP “I am driven by my own educational experiences, to help create a world that empowers every individual to have a fuller sense of self and identity”.

Loriane Mbayo – @oilozz

Founded and created by Loriane Mbayo, Woman to Woman is a female-led digital media platform that has been created to beautifully and truthfully narrate the stories of women. By creating a safe space for conscious conversation, Woman to Woman connects women from all of the world. After only five years after its start-up, Loriane Mbayo and her entrepreneurial and creative team have created a platform and thriving community that produces events, online discussions, podcasts, and articles on topics that deserve to have a center stage in popular conversation. Loriane told GUAP, “I think what drives is women’s success, seeing women celebrating their wins gives me an oomph to continue grinding and serving and growing my platform even on days when I can’t be bothered to keep going. My faith in God also drives, because I can do all things through Christ, I also have the most amazing friends and people around me that are doing exceptionally well that keep me unknowingly accountable for everything I do”.

Nicky Mbenza & David Djema – @repatch_

Founded by Nicky Mbenza & David Djema, Repatch is a service that offers a quick, easy, and reliable repair service that makes fixing your broken devices as easy as ordering a pizza. Repatch is THE go-to service for broken devices and are a company that offers a unique customer led service that is refreshing to see in tech. The dynamic duo is the future of tech innovation, and the business is 100% ran and owned by the dynamic duo. Nicky and David told GUAP, “We are great friends, and that is the cornerstone of what makes Repatch work so well. Our personalities and skills work very well together as we balance each other out. Nicky is an Arsenal fan, which means you know he has patience and a sense of humour. Nicky is great with people and the operational side of things and is obsessed with creating an exceptional customer experience.”