Elsie Rogers’ book, Autistic Leaping over Walls While Living with Autism, tells her journey of raising her autistic son to adulthood and gives effective tools of support for anyone dealing with autism. Twenty-five years ago, Elsie Rogers knew next to nothing about autism, let alone the impact the disorder would have on her life. In her recently published book, Autistic Leaping over Walls While Living with Autism, the businesswoman and mum of two, tells the story of the many obstacles and learning points of raising her older son Joshua and how she strived to ensure he could have the best possib ..read more

Glitz, precision choreography and high-performance art are all trademarks of a Beyoncé concert, but Queen Bey set a new standard with her Renaissance Tour. Melan contributor Louise Chandler was at her London residency and shares everything you need to know about the show. Beyonce Renaissance Tour Image credit: Louise Chandler Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour is arguably THE biggest musical event of the year. As soon as news broke about the tour, fans of the multi-award-winning artiste frantically tried to nab tickets to the concert nearest their hometown, some were even happy to travel much further ..read more

Caribbean food and drink businesses in the UK will be honoured in the first five-star awards event on Monday 9 October to celebrate the ever-increasingly popular cuisine. Caribbean food and drink businesses in the UK will be honoured in the first UK Caribbean Food Awards In recent years there can be no denying that Caribbean cuisine is only now getting the recognition it deserves in the UK food and drink industry. This is despite Caribbean food and drink establishments having a presence in the UK since the 1920s.  Today, the fast-growing industry is now worth more than £100 million in the ..read more

‘A Purposeful Life’ by trailblazing MP Dawn Butler talks about what has inspired and motivated her to persevere in the face of oppression. “Lying is a big thing for me. And so I wasn’t going to be a part of the lie,” said Labour MP Dawn Butler talking about her now infamous decision to call Boris Johnson a liar in parliament. In her memoir ‘A Purposeful Life’ Dawn talks openly about just how much of a big thing lying really is to her. In the week of the book’s release, we caught up with her to learn more about her, topics within the book, political aspirations, and the importance of self-care ..read more

Windrush Caribbean Film Awards 2023 was all about celebrating legacy as Caribbean personalities, VIPs and filmmakers converged at London’s Genesis Cinema in early July. Photo credit: Windrush Caribbean Film Awards 2023 – Rudolph Walker and Judith Jacob Veteran actress, Judith Jacob, hosted the awards, which was the culmination of this year’s month-long 4th annual Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, which featured cinema screenings across Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Newport and London. “It is our purpose and mission like our Windrush ancestors before us to keep pushing boundaries and break ..read more

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is the last word in luxury hotel destinations. Widely regarded as Dubai’s most iconic and lavish travel accommodation, read on for 7 things to add to your to-do list while on a visit to the larger-than-life hotel. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah enjoys the reputation of being the only “7-Star” hotel in the world and so you won’ be surprised to learn that guests can enjoy an incredible catalogue of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and amenities. If you’re lucky enough to have a vacation planned at Burj Al Arab, we’ve put together a list of “must-dos” during your stay to elevate yo ..read more

Funke Adepoju, founder of an ethical African fashion womenswear brand, talks exclusively to Melan Magazine about her thriving Made in Lagos popup brand.   Funke Adepoju wears many hats. She’s a wife, a mum, creative director and founder of her own self-titled fashion label (Funke Adepoju). Building on these triumphs, in 2022, she also became the founder of Made in Lagos popup, which at time of writing (august 2023), had just concluded a very successful three-day residency in Piccadilly, London. During a visit to the 2023 Made in London popup, Melan Magazine interviewed Funke to learn more ..read more

Summertime is here and whatever the weather there is always something to do. If you need a little inspiration on where to go and what to do, check the Melan Magazine guide for some of the best things to do this summer. Somerset House: BLACK VENUS, Reclaiming Black Women in Visual Culture Ayana V. Jackson, Anarcha , 2017 © Courtesy of the Artist and Mariane Ibrahim This summer at Somerset House an exhibition, BLACK VENUS, is on display examining Black women’s historical representation and shifting legacy in visual culture. Curated by Aindrea Emelife, the inspired exhibition brings together the ..read more

Make a Deposit is a new book by Danielle LaShawn McKnight offering a blueprint to anyone who has lost their identity in motherhood to relearn yourself, redefine who you are, and LEAN IN to who you want to become. Motherhood can be fulfilling and rewarding, but what happens when you start to lose sight of the woman you were before the children came along? Lifestyle content creator and mom of four, Danielle LaShawn McKnight has been there and done that. There is no question that she loves her family, but she started to realise that she no longer recognised herself outside of the “mum” title. Ma ..read more

“Where are all the other Black travellers in the luxury sailing space?” Travel blogger Ashley Forrester probed this question while on a week-long trip on the Turkish Riviera. “Is there truly no place for Black people on the water?” Google “luxury sailing” and you’ll be greeted with images of expensive yachts, commanded by smiling white faces. Google “luxury Black sailing” and you will find vessels with black sails or a stylish black paint job, also commanded by smiling white faces. So where are we? Is there truly no place for Black people on the water? These are the questions that Ashley, alon ..read more