Kolade Ladipo is a Black and Queer man currently studying at LIPA. He was heavily involved in Liverpool’s Black Lives Matter protests and appeared on ABC News when his photograph went viral and a mural of him was subsequently painted.

Kolade recently hosted his own protest to show solidarity for Nigeria in light of the recent acts of police brutality and EndSARS EndSWAT protests.

A friend of Guild Deputy President Imogen, Kolade talked to us about his experiences as a Black and LGBTQ+ creative in Liverpool and the UK.

Who inspires Kolade Ladipo

• Kaytranada – https://www.instagram.com/kaytranada/
• Viola Davis – Viola played a Bisexual woman in the Netflix tv show ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. This was really important as you don’t often see that character or person represented on screen. Viola is also set to star in the upcoming Netflix film ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ where she will play the role of Queer blue singer Ma Rainey.
• Janet Mock – Director, writer and executive producer of FX series ‘Pose’ and Netflix movie ‘Hollywood’.
• Laverne Cox - https://www.instagram.com/lavernecox/
• Munroe Bergdorf - https://www.instagram.com/munroebergdorf/