Mandem x Barbican

Deconstructing Grime, Race and Masculinity

Our latest panel-led event was held at the Barbican Centre in London. During the discussion the panel guests explored the relationship between black British masculinity and Grime culture. Among the guests were Mazen Mustafa, Vince Baidoo, Jordan Harry and Will Taylor. Watch the discussion below.


Mazen Mustafa is a Computer Science student at Kingston University. He has been working with MANDEM since the platform’s inception, including a notable appearance on a panel discussion centred around Islam and a powerful article about his motherland, Sudan.

Will Taylor is a multidisciplinary artist, creative producer and youth support worker born and raised in South London. Will is the creator of ‘Black Boys Cry‘, a series of short BBC New Creatives audio dramas based on interviews with black men about their lives, masculinity and their emotions.

Vince Baidoo has worked and been trained across various mainstream media channels such as the BBC, ITV & Channel 4. Vince also supports young talent in publishing graphic novels that share and relate to BAME cultures and has recently moved into games developing that also explores under-represented voices and narratives.

Jordan Harry is the CEO of StudyFast, an organisation that provides speed reading and memory training to thousands of people across the world. Jordan recently featured in a Metro article about race, identity and mixed heritage, and takes pride in breaking society’s stereotyping of young black men.



Illustration by Nick Ogri

You don't have permission to register