Matt Ross, who was Richard Antwi’s good friend and is now one of the main driving forces behind the scholarship, wrote the following guest blog for us.
Photo of JoJo Mukeza, by Sam Edrisi.
Last week ended well.
The beautiful autumnal sunshine more than adequately compensated for the drop in temperature – officially announcing the end of the summer and the beginning of the academic year – and I had the pleasure of sharing a beverage with the inaugural recipient of the Richard Antwi Scholarship, JoJo Mukeza.
Having enrolled on the Westminster University M.A. course the previous week, I wanted to check in on how JoJo found his first week of studies, to let him know about the wider support available from Richard’s friends and to discuss his aspirations following the Masters degree course - so we could start to plot the most appropriate work placements for him.
Alongside the warmth, laughs and friendship, Richard always provided the most useful and practical counsel - often as we shared a fresh mint tea on a Friday afternoon amongst the hustle of Soho – and it definitely felt like Rich was with us in spirit, gently guiding this new chapter.
The breadth of Richard’s support for others became abundantly clear when he passed so suddenly in 2016. The affection and respect in which he was held by so many people across the music industry and beyond, manifested in a desire to channel this good will and emotion in a way that captured his legacy and found a way to continue it.
For those who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Rich before he passed so prematurely at 38, he was a much-loved and widely respected music manager, lawyer and entrepreneur. Always ahead of the curve with sharp instincts, great ears and a handsome smile. As Carl Fysh succinctly put it - Richard was quietly at the centre of everything.
Of Ghanaian lineage, Richard’s back story was written in Wembley, progressing from a state comprehensive to study law at Oxford University (the first from his school to do so), before embarking on a successful career which saw him play pivotal roles in the ascendance of many of the artists and executives currently making moves and running major matters in the UK.
After some meetings, some phone calls and numerous fresh mint teas, a small group of Richard’s friends tapped into a larger group of Richard’s friends, to create a scholarship in his name to support young, hungry, entrepreneurially spirited individuals with aspirations in music and tech.
Supported by all of the major record labels, major music publishers, the cream of the independents and music law firms, the scholarship is awarded in conjunction with the University of Westminster, Music Business Management M.A. course – probably the best bridge from academic study into the music industry and a course to which Richard contributed as a guest lecturer and sometime mentor – encompassing fees, a substantial contribution to living expenses and a work placement aligned with the scholar’s professional focus and aspirations.
Establishing the criteria for the award, we reflected on Richard’s instincts for talent and ideas.
While a first degree is not essential, creativity and hustle are…. Which brings me back to last week and the inaugural recipient, JoJo.
JoJo’s story started in the Congo and progressed through Tottenham. Creatively meeting his challenges, acquiring skills and contributing to projects of his own and others – most recently as creative director on the Ghetts album ‘Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament’.
Already inspired by the course, I have no doubt he will contribute and learn in equal measure – as it should be.
The Richard Antwi scholarship is funded for the next 5 years, with further in-principle pledges of support already in hand to take us beyond 2024. If any of this is of interest to you, as a donor, collaborator or scholarship applicant, please feel free to get in touch – the mint tea and conversations continue.
