Fredi Nwaka

For me, life has never just been about putting on a nice event or making noise for one night. It has always been deeper than that. It’s about legacy. It’s about impact. It’s about creating spaces, stories and opportunities that live beyond the moment. And this birthday really showed me that what we’re building has the power to become something annual, something people look forward to, something with real meaning behind it.

When I look back on the last year, I can honestly say it’s been a year of growth, expansion and elevation.

We’ve continued to build two successful and growing award shows with The Power of a Woman and The Power of a Man. Both of these platforms mean a lot to me because they were created to celebrate people properly. To shine a light on those doing meaningful work, often without the recognition they deserve. To see both awards grow, gain momentum and touch more people has been powerful.

My book Boy was also released, and seeing it sell over 3,000 copies in the first two weeks was a big moment for me. That wasn’t just about numbers. That was about people connecting with my story. That was about truth resonating. That was about vulnerability, pain, growth and healing finding its way into people’s hands and hearts. When you tell your story honestly, people find themselves in it. That’s what makes it powerful.

I was also proud to win the ‘Black Excellence Award’ at the Charles Gordon Trust Awards, and to be recognised across other platforms too. I was nominated for two awards at the CCC Awards and won the Commended Award for Role Model, which meant a lot because being a role model is not something I take lightly. I was also nominated for Role Model at the MBCC Awards in Birmingham and again, that kind of recognition is always humbling because it tells me the work is landing where it needs to land.

Then there was the most talked about UK comedy of 2025, Jafaican. That release definitely caused a stir lol. It sparked conversations, debates and strong opinions around comedy versus cultural appropriation. For those who haven’t seen it, its available on Apple TV. But that’s what art does sometimes. It provokes. It challenges. It makes people talk. I’ve never been afraid of conversation, and I’ve never been interested in creating work that just sits there quietly and does nothing. I believe storytelling should move people. Even when it makes them uncomfortable. Especially when it makes them think.

Alongside all of this, continuing my work with young people, I became the Ambassador for RISE Education, a school in Mitcham and also an Enterprise Mentor. This has stayed close to my heart as giving back is part of who I am. Mentoring young people, pouring into others, helping them see possibility in themselves, that matters to me just as much as any award, any screening or any sales figure. Success means more when it reaches beyond you.

So yes, this past year has been full. Full of work. Full of wins. Full of conversation. Full of purpose. But I’m never someone who gets too comfortable. I appreciate the moment, but I’m always thinking about the next level. Always thinking about how to build bigger, better and more meaningfully.

And the next 12 months are already shaping up to be major…