Femi Koleoso serves as drummer and bandleader for Ezra Collective while maintaining a career as DJ and broadcaster for BBC Radio 6 Music. Recently, he was invited to guest-edit The Guardian's Saturday magazine culture section. When he shared the news with his father and secondary school English teacher, both were tremendously proud. Femi jokes that while he may not be a writer or intellectual, he did earn an A in his GCSE English examinations.
Raised in Enfield, north London, to Nigerian parents, Femi discovered his passion for drums at church. His musical talents were nurtured through the state school system and strengthened in youth clubs. Today, he travels internationally with Ezra Collective, performing, producing, and broadcasting. At the core of his philosophy lies the belief that hope persists beyond hardship. Joy and renewal remain possible even in life's darkest moments.
Femi finds hope's most eloquent expression in music. Songs frequently emerge from pain and suffering, subsequently becoming sources of profound joy. Grime music evolved from challenging conditions in London's council estates. Fela Kuti composed a song about his mother's execution by the Nigerian government, and its bassline became a club anthem. Calypso originated from the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. Music possesses the remarkable capacity to transform suffering into celebration. Through this guest edit, Femi aims to share stories that guide readers from pain toward joy.
Sources: theguardian.com
The words in bold are from the article.
| 1. nurtured | a. leads |
| 2. philosophy | b. developed |
| 3. eloquent | c. extraordinary |
| 4. frequently | d. ability |
| 5. profound | e. deep |
| 6. evolved | f. developed |
| 7. remarkable | g. often |
| 8. capacity | h. powerful |
| 9. celebration | i. belief |
| 10. guides | j. joy |
1.b 2.i 3.h 4.g 5.e 6.f 7.c 8.d 9.j 10.a