Dauda Ladejobi

Background

About Dauda Ladejobi

From the age of 15, I was deeply immersed in the arts, starting as a participant in a weekly youth group. Here, we employed drama and music to address local community issues. Through collective discussions, we determined our focal points, then creatively manifested solutions. This collaborative approach has deeply influenced my creative journey. As a performer and poet, I've had the privilege to collaborate with esteemed organizations such as the BBC, Barbican, Sadlers Wells, Thames Festival Trust, and Walthamstow Council, among others. These engagements not only amplified my experiences but also allowed me to deliver workshops and masterclasses. In these sessions, I mentor participants on harnessing personal and societal concerns as catalysts for artistic expression—spanning music, drama, and poetry. Projects I've spearheaded touch upon pressing issues like mental health, ethnicity, and male violence, always tailored to resonate with the audience's unique context. I am a proud co-founder of "Spoken, Not Stirred," a monthly poetry night and arts initiative in Barking and Dagenham. Our reach has expanded with workshops throughout London and active participation in community festivals. Another venture close to my heart is the "Speak Up" program, focusing on engaging schools and youngsters in dialogues on mental health through diverse art forms. In addition to my initiatives, I've been entrusted with exhilarating commissions. Notably, I've crafted a national learning resource for The National Windrush Monument and have penned pieces for esteemed bodies such as the Faith and Belief Forum, Royal Docks, Thames Trust Festival, and a myriad of other organizations. 2023 marked the inception of "Ideate Ed"—a venture co-established with industry peers. It's an educational enterprise marrying equity and innovation, central to its offerings and ethos.