Derby City Councillor & Cultural Figure

Ndukwe
Onuoha

Poet. Adman. Griot. Councillor.
Every story he tells is an act of reclamation.

Explore the work The Black Paper
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Derby City Councillor Chief Griot — We Are Griots CCO — Voice of the East Spoken Word Artist Podcast Host — The Black Paper

About

The griot carries
the village's memory
forward.

Ndukwe Onuoha is a Derby City Councillor, spoken word artist, advertising creative, and cultural organiser rooted in Abia State and working at the intersection of heritage, politics, and storytelling. He holds two poetry collections, a cabinet portfolio, and a conviction that the African diaspora's story is still being written.

Founder of We Are Griots. Chief Creative Officer of Voice of the East. Author of Revolutionary Verses and Nwa Chukwu. Writer on Queen Idia the Musical. Director of the Nsibidi Project CIC.

Full biography
Ndukwe Onuoha

Advertising work

Full portfolio
WorldRemit Oliver Agency

Global Campaign

WorldRemit — I*mmigrant

Multi-market diaspora campaign built around belonging, identity, and the world of difference migrants make.
Hero Beer Echefula ABInBev

Campaigns — Award Winning

Hero Beer — Echefula

Most-awarded campaign at Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival 2019. Shortlisted at Loeries 2020.
Frixion Vodka Loeries Winner

Social Impact Campaign

Frixion Vodka

Only West African winner at Loeries 2017. A consent campaign that went viral before the brand was even real.

Poetry

Words that survive
the page

Two collections. One short film. A career-long argument that language is the most political tool a person can carry.

Revolutionary Verses

Revolutionary Verses

Collection 1
Isee

Isee

EP
Nwa Chukwu

Nwa Chukwu

Collection 2
New episodes weekly

The Black
Paper

UK politics through the lens of African heritage communities. Co-hosted with researcher and analyst Cheta Nwanze, The Black Paper interrogates power, policy, and representation with the precision of people who have skin in the game.

Apple Podcasts Website Spotify
The Black Paper podcast — hosted by Ndukwe Onuoha and Cheta Nwanze

Civic life

2023

Elected

Derby City Councillor for Mackworth and New Zealand Ward. First African elected to Derby City Council.

Cabinet

Portfolio

Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks, Public Safety and Leisure, Derby City Council.

CIC

The Nsibidi Project

Director of a community interest company working in African heritage, arts, and community prevention.

CCO

Voice of the East

Chief Creative Officer building a media platform for Eastern Nigeria and the Igbo diaspora.

In the press

BBC Derby BBC The barbershop therapy sessions helping men open up Mar 2026 Derby City Council Cabinet changes confirmed at AGM — Onuoha retains Streetpride portfolio May 2026 Derby City Council Portfolio spotlight: turning trash into treasure and making Derby greener Dec 2025 This Day Live Nsibidi Project hosts "Light in the Shadows" art exhibition at Banks Mill Studio, Derby Dec 2024 This Day Live Onuoha appointed Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure in Derby Jul 2024 Derby Telegraph First African and first black woman councillors elected to Derby City Council May 2023 This Day Live Ndukwe elected first African councillor in Derby, United Kingdom May 2023 Lagos Review Ndukwe Onuoha limns family history with "Nwa Chukwu" 2020 The Guardian NG Ndukwe: in whom spoken word finds rhythm 2020 Ake Festival Ndukwe Onuoha — performer profile 2021 Marketing Edge Great ideas are born when clients and agencies collaborate 2018