Jahméne

Mandy Thomas B.E.M.

On 8 October 2015, Mandy published her first book, You Can’t Run,^[13] through Ebury, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The publication offers a detailed and deeply personal account of her relationship with Jahméne’s father. The foreword was contributed by esteemed author and campaigner Katie Piper.

Mandy is an accomplished author, poet, and an established artist, as well as a skilled photographer. In addition to her creative work, she is a dedicated justice advocate^[14] and a recognised media commentator^[15] on issues relating to domestic abuse. Her efforts are focused on raising public awareness, influencing policy, and securing support for victims of domestic violence.

In October 2020, Mandy was awarded the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to campaigning against domestic abuse.^[16]

2012: The X Factor

On 30 May 2012, Douglas auditioned in London for the ninth series of The X Factor. He sang Etta James' "At Last" with a powerful voice in what Louis had stated as a "revelation" and received a yes from each of the judges Louis Walsh, Tulisa, Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger. Douglas managed to advance to judges' houses, where he impressed mentor Nicole Scherzinger with his rendition of David Guetta's "Titanium", thereby making it to the live shows.

On 8 December, he was the first act to make it safely through to the second night of the live finals, along with Arthur.

He finished the competition in second place.

In August 2013, Douglas performed in Indonesia for RCTI's 24th anniversary television special, X Factor Around the World.

Artwork

The album cover design, conceptualised by Jahméne, features a backdrop of an arrangement of peacock feathers symbolising a Seraph / Seraphim, encompassing Jahméne within a triangle, the strongest geometric shape, representing the powerful combination of the Father God, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

“And their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the four had, were full of eyes all around.” - Ezekiel 10:12 (NKJV)

At the centre, Jahméne is depicted wearing a black hooded cape, conveying a sense of solemnity and introspection. The intention behind the imagery evokes the idea of being divinely surrounded and protected by God, even in one’s darkest moments. The photo was taken by Edward Cooke.

Poetry

On the 6th July in 2017, Jahméne released a book containing a collection of 75 poems entitled, Unfathomable Phantasmagoria.^[24]

Track listing: Unfathomable Phantasmagoria

Mission Statement

“At Black History And Me, we are committed to celebrating and amplifying the contributions of Black individuals throughout British history. Through our poster designs and community activations, we aim to increase visibility, foster understanding, and inspire a stronger connection to Black British identity.

The erasure of Black stories from mainstream history is deeply dehumanising. While the history of enslavement must never be overlooked, it should not be the sole narrative that defines Black history. We believe in highlighting the rich legacy, achievements, and ongoing impact of the Black community in the UK as a way to combat ignorance and promote meaningful inclusion.

As Marcus Garvey said,

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

We believe that recognising one’s place in history fosters pride, accountability, and a stronger sense of identity.

We hope to see Black British history made a mandatory part of the National Curriculum across the UK. Currently, only Wales^[25] has taken this step. The absence of standardised Black history education in England and Scotland leads to inconsistent learning and reinforces divisions among young people, further entrenching systemic inequalities.

Addressing these gaps is essential for building a more united, informed, and equitable society.”

Poster Designs

Jahméne produced a series of thirteen poster designs, each featuring his original West African–inspired patterns and artistic portraits. These works highlight the contributions and legacies of significant Black historical figures, including: Harold Moody, Walter Tull, Mary Seacole, Fanny Eaton, Dido Elizabeth Belle, Phillis Wheatley, Ellen Craft, Ignatius Sancho, Ira Aldridge, Sara Forbes Bonetta, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and John Archer.

The logo design incorporates the Adinkra symbol Nea Onnim, which represents knowledge, lifelong learning, and the continual pursuit of wisdom. The symbol is often interpreted as: “He who does not know can know from learning.”

Notting Hill Carnival Billboard

In 2018, Jahméne conceptualised an idea which he shared with Kayne Kawasaki: to take over billboard spaces along the route of the Notting Hill Carnival with the purpose of displaying historical facts and statistics related to the event. The aim was to educate passersby and deepen public understanding of the Carnival’s rich cultural and political significance.

This vision later came to life in the lead-up to Notting Hill Carnival 2025. During the planning process, it became increasingly clear to Kayne Kawasaki that many people were unaware of the Carnival’s origins. In response, he mobilised the Black community via social media,^[26] successfully raising the necessary funds for the billboard campaign in just 1.5 days. Notably, Kayne’s mother had initially secured a £2,000 deposit to hold the billboard space in advance, ensuring the opportunity was not lost.

The first billboard, designed by Jahméne, focused on Kelso Cochrane, a young Antiguan man whose racially motivated murder in 1959 became a pivotal moment in British civil rights history. The display featured a large portrait of Cochrane, alongside a powerful quote from the late political activist and broadcaster Darcus Howe:

“If there were not race riots in Notting Hill, I don’t believe that we would have had the Notting Hill Carnival. If it wasn’t for the murder of Kelso Cochrane, Carnival wouldn’t have happened.”

The billboard was visually striking, with Antiguan flags adorning three of its corners. It stood as one of the largest and most prominent displays on the Carnival route along Ladbroke Grove.

To mark the launch of the initiative, a celebratory event was organised by Kayne Kawasaki, with support from the A.C.E (African Caribbean Exchange), funded by Anthony Joshua. A.C.E covered the cost of a nearby venue just steps from the billboard, along with catering and live performances. The event brought together donors, community members, and long-time representatives of the Cochrane family. Guests were welcomed by the sounds of traditional steel pan music and treated to a special performance by Alexander D. Great, a Trinidadian calypsonian singer and musician, who paid tribute to Kelso’s legacy through his music.

Inspired by the initiative, Anthea Hudson of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd. took further action by securing bus stop advertisement spaces across the area as part of their ‘R.E.S.P.E.C.T’ campaign, which aimed to highlight the core values that sustain and define Notting Hill Carnival.

During the Carnival, Kayne and Jahméne also conducted vox pop interviews with attendees near the billboard. They asked the public if they recognised the individual featured and used the opportunity to educate those unfamiliar with Kelso Cochrane’s story.

Gabrielle

Jahméne first joined^[27] Gabrielle on her “Under My Skin” album launch tour in 2018, returning in 2019 to support her once again.

Following this collaboration, Jahméne took on the responsibility of designing Gabrielle’s tour programmes and merchandise for subsequent tours.

Having recognised Jahméne’s photography, photo editing skills and having developed a personal friendship, Gabrielle’s manager, Lisa Bennington, arranged a photoshoot with Jahméne to capture promotional images for an upcoming Gabrielle tour. While the shoot was originally intended for promotional purposes, Gabrielle was so impressed by the photographs and their artistic direction that she selected one of the images to feature as the cover art for her next album,^[28] “A Place In Your Heart.”

As a tribute^[29] to Gabrielle, Jahméne recorded a version of her song Rise, honouring her artistry and influence.

Albums

EPs - Extended plays

Singles