Yams & Yuca

We are joined with Micallar Walker, internationally renown marketer, event producer, audience development consultant, and Founder of Dark Matter Agency. We speak about building a community of authentic Black audiences, and the importance of centring and amplifying Black voices in film, cinema, publishing, and the Arts. 

Our latest episode features Apex Zero, a multi-disciplinary artist who works as an emcee, beatmaker, filmmaker, photographer, and writer, and is originally from West London. He joins us for a deep and insightful conversation, where we learn about how he honours the ancestors to create future possibilities through his work.

World renowned barber and entrepreneur Mark Maciver, aka SliderCuts, joins us at the table to discuss the key components to building an international business whilst staying connected to local communities.

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We're back with Season 3! To start off our new season, we speak with Araba Ofori-Acquah, a healer, DJ, cultural curator and award-winning writer, about her new book, Return to Source. We learn how to unlock the power of African-Centred Wellness to develop health and well-being within the global Black community.

Writer, photographer, and video maker Riaz Phillips joins the Yams & Yuca table to talk all things food, heritage, culture and community with the release of his latest book 'West Winds: Recipes, History and Tales from Jamaica'. We discuss the many ways we are connected through food across the African Diasporas.

We are joined by Gloria Ugwarelojo Biachi, a Lagos based Dance Artist, Choreographer, Fitness instructor, Actor and Costume Designer. We learn about how Gloria's determination fuels her to continue to achieve her goals and remain on the path to success.

Visual artist and teacher Birungi Kawooya joins Heather and Kamara for a heartfelt conversation about celebrating Black Womxn within the arts and making space for authentic expressions of joy and healing within her practice.

This week we are joined by Caribbean-American author, Charmaine Wilkerson. We speak about her debut novel Black Cake, the stories that we inherit from the past and the present, and how they shape our identity.

Filmmaker, Producer and Director Sam Tebandeke join us at the Yams & Yuca Table to discuss the beauty of international collaborations within the African Diaspora. With a human approach we open ourselves to connect with many people across the globe.

In this week's episode, we sit down at the table with the first of our 'Rising Star' guests, Patience James (plus a cameo appearance from a special guest in the background)! We talk to the accomplished dancer, choreographer, actress and teacher, about how she manages to find a balance whilst continuing to share authentic African culture through her work and her ever popular 'Afro in Heels' class.   

Connect with Patience at:

Today, Heather and Kamara celebrate 1 year of Yams & Yuca highlighting special moments with our guests and answering questions from our listeners. Thank you to all the guests, listeners and supporters from across the globe who have joined us in creating a beautiful tapestry. Cheers to the first year and many more to come! 

This week we catch up with the talented Sarudazayi Marufu, the Founder & Executive Producer of Film and Theatre Production Company Euras Films LTD. Euras Films is a female-led film & theatre production company dedicated to innovative storytelling that showcases authentic representation. We speak to Saru about what having a 'seat at the table' means for her, and how trusting the movement of collective leadership can foster meaningful change.

Welcome to season 2 of Yams & Yuca! We begin by reflecting on our cycles of creativity especially in light of the "new normal". This week Kor Kase of Afro Van Connect shares how he remains present in his creative practice whilst providing safe spaces for Black creatives to come together.   

Writer, activist and creative entrepreneur Nick Makoha sits with us at the Yams & Yuca table to share his passion for food and poetry. This week we explore what it takes to cultivate confidence and belief within especially when navigating the peaks and valleys of being an artist.   

Our special guest for this week is co-host, Heather Benson. Heather shares her story of experiencing full circle moments in her life, and how they have contributed to her being able to continue the art of storytelling through her artistic and creative work.

This week we welcome Pawlet Brookes, Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity - the diversity-led arts organisation in Leicester. An experienced and highly respected senior manager and producer, Pawlet has been at the forefront of the development of Black arts in the UK. 

We kick off the second half of Season 1 with a feature on our very own Kamara Gray. This week we learn about the nurturing experiences that inspired her to invest in young Black dancers and provide them with opportunities to train, perform and achieve their dreams. 

Welcome to our Bonus Episode! Joining us at the table is Tahlia Gray, who shares her incredible journey that spans across the globe. She discusses why she feels it's so important to be seen, and how she came to create her international hosiery brand, Sheer Chemistry, that empowers women to feel confident and gorgeous in their own skin.

This week, our podcast guest is the wonderful Maxine Beneba Clarke, a widely published Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent. The award winning writer joins us at the table, and we talk about the power of representation through her characters, and its importance throughout her work.  ⁠ 

Textile and performance artist, Enam Gbewonyo, embodies and honours her heritage through her artistry. She along with Heather and Kamara explore what it means to connect with and celebrate our ancestors.   

This week, hosts Heather and Kamara chat with international film director, Baff Akoto. Baff speaks about how he carved his own unique path via London, Accra, and beyond. We learn about how his choices shaped his life, leading to an award winning career. 

Jeroboam Bozeman, the multi-talented dance artist and Principal Dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, joins us at our virtual table. We learn about why giving back is so important to Jeroboam, and how he incorporates it into his life and career. 

This week, co-hosts Heather and Kamara chat with Mercy Nabirye, an accomplished consultant and leader in African Diaspora Arts. We discuss Mercy’s life and career, and learn how authenticity features throughout. 

Heather and Kamara sit down with international performer, choreographer and teacher Alesandra Seutin to discuss surviving through challenging times and how it impacts their careers as creatives.

Yams & Yuca explores the fabric of Black identities through culture, food, art, life experiences and more; sharing the stories of international creatives. Co-hosts Heather Benson & Kamara Gray bring their unique perspectives as Black Global Citizens living and working in the UK and beyond.

Close your eyes. Think about that signature dish that reminds you of home; you know the one that makes your eyes widen with excitement and fills your spirit from head to toe with just one bite. Mmmmmm…that feeling. Yams & Yuca is a space for creatives to share similar ancestral memories that shape the way they navigate life and careers as part of the growing African Diaspora that exists across the globe.