Julia Omari talks to Priscilla Ohene, author and founder of Becoming Anaiyah

How long have you been connected to Newham? I have lived in Newham all my life. I lived in Plaistow for 17 years then moved to Canning Town/ Custom House in 2012 and have lived here ever since.
What’s your favourite Newham moment? When my family and I lived in Plaistow every summer our cousins would come over to visit and my cousins and I would go over to Plaistow Park. We would have a massive picnic with drinks, food and games. I often loved playing on the swings to see how high I could go and have competitions with my little brothers. I loved the huge slide, it was tall so if you could climb the ladder and come down the slide it was a huge deal! Plaistow Park used to host fun days during the summer holidays or on a Bank Holiday weekend and they were fun.
Most inspirational Newham person? Kelle Bryan, former member of the group Eternal. They reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart with I Wanna Be the Only One featuring the one and only Bebe Winans. I remember the exact time I discovered this song. I was in primary school and I heard it on the radio and it was so upbeat and was so joyful. I can’t explain the feeling the song gave me but it stayed with me forever.
Kelle Bryan is breaking barriers. I remember hearing that she was going to feature on Loose Women, the daytime talk show which was prominently cast as white but over the years we have seen Judi Love, Charlene White and Brenda Edwards. I thought wow this is truly something, this is going to give a little black girl the idea that she too can be part of a panel one day that will discuss social economic and political views.
Favourite place to eat in Newham? Newham has changed over the years but when I was younger I used to love Good Friends on Balaam Street. One of the best Chinese restaurants and I could easily walk there, grab my takeaway and come back to mine and enjoy a movie night, especially on Fridays after a long week.
Favourite Newham outdoor space? Victoria Docks. It has many restaurants, a nice area to walk in, and it is truly great during the summer.
How would you spend a free day in Newham? I would go for a walk around Victoria Docks by the river. The view there is everything, especially in summer when the sun sets.
You recently held an event to celebrate the one year anniversary of your book launch for The Anaiyah Series. Tell us about that. The Anaiyah Series celebrated its first anniversary and it was everything I could’ve dreamed of. We had a great discussion panel, good food and incredible guests. I wanted to celebrate the milestone in an intimate setting because it is a great opportunity to truly network with others in this industry as well as thank those who have supported, contributed or even encouraged this Christian Children Series. The Anaiyah Series is a set of children’s books that promotes Christian values in several ways. The books are centred around the character of Anaiyah, a young girl learning to navigate the world with the help of her faith in God.
The book is just the beginning of an evolution of change, the evolution of becoming better and helping build a generation that should be heard, seen and understood. It’s more than just a book series, it has global impact.
Finish the Sentence. Newham is… Extraordinary. I don’t want anyone to think Newham is just your average borough filled with just crime and sorrow. It is a borough that is filled with creativity, drama and inspiration. Many have come out of Newham and have explored the gifts and talents and given us hope that we too can achieve our goals and dreams. It’s easy to become a product of your environment and think that there is little to nothing and that this could be it. You have to fight for your dreams.
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.