ROOTS RUN DEEP

Ronald Amanze

Ronald Amanze is a pioneering figure from the golden era of west London’s pirate radio scene in 1980s, whose work undoubtedly helped champion both the sound and cultural identity of a generation. In the early 80s, he played a central role in developing Project 74A in Harlesden, transforming it into a grassroots creative hub for aspiring artists and community radio.

From this space, he co-founded the legendary Time Radio alongside Henry Macfarlane, Hartley Rochester and Micky D, creating a vital platform for Black music. At a time when reggae had limited mainstream exposure, Ronald’s work helped amplify the genre across Harlesden and beyond, giving artists, DJs and the community a space to be heard.

Building on that foundation, Ronald went on to help establish and support a number of influential stations across west London, including London Irie FM, Girls FM, West London Radio, Sky FM, People’s FM and Madena.

74A became a hub for recording, collaboration and community activity, backed by key industry figures, Jet Star and Brent Council. His impact goes far beyond broadcasting, and he helped lay the foundations for Harlesden’s reggae scene and wider creative culture, creating opportunities and empowering a generation whose influence is still felt today.

There was a time when life changed in an instant. A stroke survivor and now, a life lived alongside dementia. After a long recovery with many challenges, Ronald found a new beginning of joyful pursuits and purpose.

Through creativity and the arts, he has transformed his experience into something powerful, something that reaches people beyond words. Whether through music, storytelling, or community engagement, Ronald reminds others that life does not stop after diagnosis. It simply changes rhythm.

As an ambassador for organisations such as Arts for Dementia, Deepness Dementia Radio, NAPA, and the Alzheimer’s Society, he now champions health awareness, inclusion, and the healing power of creativity.

Ronald is now growing as an artist himself, expressing himself through the joy of writing poetry, volunteering with his sons, and coproducting projects which focus on the things that matter in life.

Colin Brown

Colin Brown (DJ CeeBee Multimedia) was born in London to Jamaican Parents.  He first started entertaining people around 1975, after his dad asked him to play the music at one of his numerous house parties. He later progressed to playing music in and around London on his sound system The Mighty 3 Hi–Fi. 

He first started working with artists/bands in 1982 when his sound system hosted a show and dance featuring the True Identity band. Later in the 1990’s he moved into music production and formed Hardcore Music Company (HMC). He has experience in releasing music via Jet Star, when the distributor was in its heyday. During this period he joined the Musicians Union, and also became interested in the Black Music Industry Association (BMIA) which was based in Harlesden. 

In 2015 he was invited to join Reggae Fraternity UK (RFUK) which was set up to support UK artists and musicians. During the same period he joined Chaaawaaa Radio as a DJ/Presenter. 

Since 2019 Colin has been documenting the history of reggae music in the UK, he has created social media content to highlight the contribution the United Kingdom has made to the promotion, development and evolution of reggae music.  

In 2022 he curated and showcased the 1970’s Lovers Rock UK Exhibition at BBMC in North London during Black History Month.  The exhibition’s second outing was in January 2023, with a four month run at the Windrush Generation Legacy Association unit in Croydon Whitgift shopping centre. In October 2023 the exhibition moved to the Legacy Centre of Excellence, Birmingham, as part of their Roots Festival.  

In 2026 Colin was part of the team that designed and delivered the Harlesden Walk of Music. 

Linett Kamala

Linett Kamala is a creative polymath, DJ, academic and carnivalist, widely known as the “Sound System Queen”. With a career spanning over four decades, she is a pioneering figure in UK sound system culture. 

Born in Harlesden, and raised in Kilburn, she is one of the first female DJs to perform on a sound system in the mid-1980s at the Notting Hill Carnival aged 15. Linett is now one of the organisers of the Carnival, serving as Board Director as well as being one of few women to own and operate a custom hand-built sound system, LIN KAM ART.   

Linett is Founding Director of LIN KAM ART which amplifies the lives of thousands each year through festival and sound system culture, via residencies, curation, events and programmes. 

As a music industry figure, Linett is known for talent spotting, giving numerous up and coming DJs their first big break and championing underrepresented groups such as young people and women and in sound system culture.   

Her innovative light and sound systems; BASSTONE MAYPOLE and BASS TONE REGENERATION are a beautiful fusion of innovation, art, natural materials and powerful sonic technology and have been invited to places such as The Royal Albert Hall, The British Library, The British Museum and the announcement launch of the London Museum.  

Linett is President of the University of the Arts London Alumni of Colour Association, Associate Lecturer in Performance: MA Design and Practice at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and BA (Hons) Live Event & Festival Management at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. 

Carole J Thompson

Carole J Thompson is a Kilburn-born creative, community advocate, and lifelong music lover whose story begins in a record shop in 1969. Raised on dub sound systems built by her uncles (wardrobes turned speaker boxes and all), her connection to reggae runs deep, shaping a lifelong journey through sound, storytelling, and culture. 

From sketching faces as a child to carrying a camera everywhere she went, Carole’s creative path led her into film and media—shooting dancehall videos and community projects, before training with BBC London News as part of a scheme to open doors for women and people of colour in the industry. Her work has spanned the Community Channel, adverts for MTV, and a collaboration with filmmaker Menelik Shabazz on Looking for Love, and her work is driven by a commitment to opening doors that were once closed to her generation. 

As a creative representative for Roots Run Deep and part of Rhythms in Conversation, Carole brings her lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep love of reggae into spaces where music becomes a gateway to storytelling, identity, and heritage. 

Alongside her creative work, Carole has spent over 15 years supporting young people to find their voice, their confidence, and their path.