Ngozi Fulani

Last updated

Ngozi Fulani
Born
Marlene Headley
NationalityBritish
Alma mater SOAS University of London
OccupationCEO
Organization Sistah Space
Children4

Ngozi Fulani (born Marlene Headley) [1] is a former British charity executive who served as chief executive officer of the registered charity Sistah Space. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Fulani was born in Harlesden, [3] and grew up in Kilburn, London, where she attended South Kilburn High School. [4] Her parents were immigrants from Barbados. [5] Her mother, a nurse, and her father, a British Rail worker, had come to London from the Caribbean in the 1950s as part of the Windrush generation. [6] She has six siblings. [5]

At the age of 18, she moved to Hackney to attend college, and later earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in African studies from SOAS University of London. [4]

Career

Fulani worked as a marriage registrar in Hackney and felt driven to train as an independent domestic violence advocate. [4] Fulani has been involved in anti-racism since being taught African Studies by majority white lecturers at SOAS from 1996-1999, saying "It was at this point I realised how much trouble we were in and how far we had to go" and "Nothing has changed. It's just different. The racism is just as intense, the hate is still there. I keep my truth." [7]

In 2015 Fulani founded Sistah Space, described as a "community-based nonprofit initiative created to bridge the gap in domestic abuse services for African heritage women and girls". [8] [9] The charity is the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom that is focused solely on supporting women and girls of African heritage. [10]

Buckingham Palace incident

In 2021, Fulani spoke in favour of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, following her interview with Oprah Winfrey, describing her as "a survivor of domestic violence from her in-laws," i.e. the then Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. [5] Despite this, on 29 November 2022, she attended a reception hosted by Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace to raise awareness as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. [11] [12]

The following day, Fulani used Twitter to publish the alleged transcript of a conversation she claims to have had with Lady Susan Hussey, a Lady of the Household. [13] According to Fulani's account, Lady Hussey repeatedly asked Fulani where she was "really" from after Fulani said she was born and raised in the UK. [11] Fulani considered Hussey's comments and actions to be abuse, saying, "Although I didn't experience physical violence, what I feel I experienced was a form of abuse", [14] and "... if you move my hair without permission, to me, that's abuse". [15]

Following the allegation, Lady Hussey resigned her position and apologised. [11] The Palace said that Hussey's remarks were "unacceptable and deeply regrettable" and that "the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside". [11]

Fulani reported receiving "horrific abuse" online since the Buckingham Palace event. [16] Following this, Ngozi paused the work of Sistah Space, citing safety concerns. [17] The Charity Commission subsequently announced a preliminary investigation into Sistah Space over concerns regarding financial management and organisational setup at the charity, which were brought to light in the wake of Fulani's Buckingham Palace allegations. [18] [19]

On 16 December Fulani and Hussey met at Buckingham Palace to address the incident, with Hussey offering her "sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused". [20] A joint statement was released afterwards, reporting that the meeting was "filled with warmth and understanding" and that Fulani "has accepted this apology and appreciates that no malice was intended". [21]

In March 2023, Fulani temporarily stepped down from her position as CEO of Sistah Space, citing the abuse she received as the reason. [2] She also criticised the Palace for not helping her tackle the abuse. [2] In response, the Palace reiterated the apologies made earlier and added that it had stood by the statement they mutually published with Fulani's approval in December 2022, which included an agreement that no further media comment would be made. [2] The Palace also mentioned the message of thanks it received from Sistah Space after the meeting between Fulani and Hussey, in which the charity thanked them for their support and assistance with Fulani's security concerns, and for handling some of the abuse she had received on social media and elsewhere. [2]

Personal life

As of 2020, Fulani resided in North London. [4] She is widowed, and has four children and three grandchildren. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana, Princess of Wales</span> Member of the British royal family (1961–1997)

Diana, Princess of Wales was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III and mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Her activism and glamour made her an international icon, and earned her enduring popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British royal family</span> Close relatives of the British monarch

The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. They support the monarch in undertaking public engagements and often pursue charitable work and interests. The royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Abbott</span> British politician (born 1953)

Diane Julie Abbott is a British politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. She served in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow Home Secretary from 2016 to 2020. She is both the first black woman elected to parliament and the longest-serving black MP. She is a member of the Labour Party. Abbott sits in the House of Commons as an independent, having had the whip suspended in April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh</span> Member of the British royal family (born 1965)

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest sibling of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne, Princess Royal</span> Daughter of Elizabeth II (born 1950)

Anne, Princess Royal, is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the only sister of King Charles III. Anne is 16th in the line of succession to the British throne and has been Princess Royal since 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Andrew, Duke of York</span> Son of Elizabeth II (born 1960)

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a younger brother of King Charles III. Andrew is eighth in the line of succession to the British throne, and the first person in the line who is not a descendant of the reigning monarch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Camilla</span> Queen of the United Kingdom since 2022

Camilla is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Louise Windsor</span> Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II (born 2003)

Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor is a member of the British royal family. She is the elder child and only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. She is a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest niece of King Charles III. She is also the older sister of James, Earl of Wessex. She is 15th in the line of succession to the British throne as of May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Devoy</span> New Zealand squash player

Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy is a former New Zealand squash player and senior public servant. As a squash player, she was dominant in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning the World Open on four occasions. She served as New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner from 2013 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floella Benjamin</span> TV presenter, actor and life peer

Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin, Baroness Benjamin, is a Trinidadian-British actress, singer, presenter, author and politician. She is known as presenter of children's programmes such as Play School, Play Away, Jamboree and Fast Forward. On 28 June 2010, Lady Benjamin was introduced to the House of Lords as a life peer nominated by the Liberal Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnardo's</span> British charity

Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children. As of 2013, it raised and spent around £200 million each year running around 900 local services, aimed at helping these same groups. It is the UK's largest children's charity, in terms of charitable expenditure. Its headquarters are in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Susan Hussey</span> British noblewoman (born 1939)

Susan Katharine Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley,, known as Lady Susan Hussey, is a British noblewoman who served as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II and as a Lady of the Household from September to November 2022 under King Charles III. According to BBC News, Hussey "was a key and trusted figure in the British royal household for decades."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James, Earl of Wessex</span> Member of the British royal family (born 2007)

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, styled Viscount Severn from his birth until 10 March 2023, is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger child and only son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He is the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest nephew of King Charles III. At the time of his birth, he was 8th in the line of succession to the British throne; as of May 2023, he is 14th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales</span> 35th episode of the 43rd season of Panorama

"An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales" is an episode of the BBC documentary series Panorama which was broadcast on BBC1 on 20 November 1995. The 54-minute programme saw Diana, Princess of Wales, interviewed by journalist Martin Bashir about her relationship with her husband, Charles, Prince of Wales, and the reasons for their subsequent separation. The programme was watched by nearly 23 million viewers in the UK, which at the time was 39.3% of the population. The worldwide audience was estimated at 200 million across 100 countries. In the UK, the National Grid reported a 1,000 MW surge in demand for power after the programme. At the time, the BBC hailed the interview as the scoop of a generation.

Oprah with Meghan and Harry is a 2021 television special hosted by American media personality Oprah Winfrey, that featured an interview between Winfrey, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. The special premiered March 7, 2021, on CBS in the United States, and in the United Kingdom the next day on ITV.

Camilla Tominey is a British journalist and broadcaster. She reports on politics and the British royal family as an associate editor of The Daily Telegraph. She also writes a weekly column for the newspaper. Since January 2023, she has presented The Camilla Tominey Show, a Sunday morning politics show on GB News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Party at the Palace</span> Music concert held outside Buckingham Palace, commemorating Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee

The Platinum Party at the Palace was a British music concert, held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2022, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The concert began at 20:00 (BST). Comedian Lee Mack served as host for the event while the Queen appeared with Paddington Bear in a pre-recorded comedy segment, which showed her offering tea to Paddington, pulling a marmalade sandwich from her handbag and tapping her tea cup to the beat of "We Will Rock You". Prince William spoke about the state of the natural world and pointed out his family's involvement with tackling environmental issues, while the Prince of Wales gave the closing speech and paid tribute to his mother's "lifetime of selfless service". Pre-taped messages of tribute from Sir Paul McCartney and former US First Lady Michelle Obama were also played during the event.

<i>Harry & Meghan</i> 2022 documentary series on Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Harry & Meghan is an American documentary series streaming on Netflix, starring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The series has six parts and covers the couple's relationship from their early courtship to their decision to step back as working members of the British royal family and their subsequent activities. It also includes interviews with family, friends, historians, and journalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sistah Space</span> UK charity

SistahSpace is a London-based domestic violence charity that provides specialist services to women of African and Caribbean heritage.

Harry: The Interview is a British television programme that aired on both ITV1 and ITVX on 8 January 2023 to coincide with the release of Prince Harry's autobiography, Spare, which was released on 10 January.

References

  1. ↑ Furness, Hannah (2 December 2022). "Ngozi Fulani: The activist proud of her African roots who found herself at the centre of a royal race storm". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Davies, Caroline (8 March 2023). "Charity boss at centre of royal race row steps down over abuse". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Oral History Interview - Ngozi Fulani". Hackney Museum. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ngozi Fulani: 'Black women don't want to risk their abusers being murdered'". The Guardian. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Who is Ngozi Fulani - the domestic abuse charity founder subjected to racism at Buckingham Palace?". Sky News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Fulani, Ngozi. "Ngozi". futurehackney.com.
  7. ↑ Fulani, Ngozi (n.d.). "Ngozi". Future Hackney. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "About Us". Sistah Space. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ngozi Fulani on Fighting for her Own Space and Sistah Space's". Sister Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "NHS encourages people to seek help if they are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault". Sky News. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani". BBC News. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "Moment Queen Consort Camilla meets charity boss Ngozi Fulani amid race row". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "Prince William's godmother Lady Susan Hussey resigns from palace duties after asking black visitor 'where she came from'". Sky News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  14. ↑ Mcilkenny, Stephen (1 December 2022). "Ngozi Fulani said Buckingham Palace reception like an interrogation" and that she felt forced to "denounce British citizenship"". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Ngozi Fulani: Lady Susan Hussey's actions were 'abuse'". Sky News. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ngozi Fulani: Black charity boss describes 'horrific abuse' after revealing palace remarks". Sky News. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Ngozi Fulani's charity Sistah Space stops work over safety". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  18. ↑ Leather, Jack; Mendick, Robert (13 December 2011). "Palace race row accuser Ngozi Fulani's charity draws watchdog's attention after allegations". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  19. ↑ Ellery, Ben (14 December 2022). "Charity in royal race row facing donations inquiry". The Times. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  20. ↑ Davies, Caroline (16 December 2022). "Ngozi Fulani receives personal apology over Buckingham Palace racism incident". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "A statement from Buckingham Palace and Ngozi Fulani, Founder of Sistah Space". The Royal Family. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.