West Side Story – Marking the fifth anniversary of Grenfell
On 14 June 2017, the nation was left in shock following the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. 72 people lost their lives, including two who later died in hospital. Five years on, the local community are still dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy and phase two of the public inquiry.
With the support of One Vibe, a non-profit organisation supporting young people in the West London area, many of the young residents who lost friends in the disaster have come together to produce a charity single called West Side Story. The single, released on 6 May 2022, is a tribute to the victims of Grenfell and created to remember all those impacted by the tragedy. The track is available to stream and purchase, with all proceeds going towards local initiatives aimed at young people. The accompanying music video drops on 18 May 2022.
The single features young artists from the West London area including Sophie DeMasi, G2 slime and Ajani, and is produced by local producer Toddla T. The track has had support from a number of high-profile individuals including Ashley Walters, Idris Elba, Digga D, AJ Tracey, Mabel and local organisations.
Khadija Saye Photography Fellowship and One Vibe
London Transport Museum’s photography fellowship was created in 2019 in honour and remembrance of the inspiring photographer and artist Khadija Saye who worked as a Young Freelancer at the Museum and was tragically killed in the Grenfell disaster.
The Khadija Saye Photography Fellow supports and photographs lots of Museum projects and activities. On 5 May 2022, Hannah Daisy, the current Photography Fellow, joined the One Vibe team at the launch event of West Side Story in West London and photographed the artists and organisations involved.
It was an honour to photograph so many of the artists who have been involved in the creation of West Side Story. As the Museum’s current Khadija Saye Photography Fellow, it’s amazing to play my part in continuing Khadija’s legacy. Using our shared love of photography to capture this important anniversary has been a ‘pinch-me’ moment that I’ll never forget. - Hannah Daisy
Elizabeth Mckay, the Museum’s Chief Operating Officer, echoed this saying,
At London Transport Museum, we’re committed to supporting young Londoners, and the Khadija Saye Photography Fellowship is one of our exciting programmes preparing young people to take their next steps into careers in the cultural sector. It has been fantastic to work with One Vibe as part of this Grenfell fifth anniversary project, and being at the launch event with Hannah and all the individuals involved with the creation of this single, and the welcoming Grenfell community was truly inspiring. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with One Vibe and the community in the Ladbroke Grove area.
For more details, follow One Vibe on Instagram and for more information about the Khadija Saye Photography Fellowship, please find details on our Opportunities section.
