My name is Temitope Ayomide Olabode. I am originally from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, and I moved to Swansea in 2012 to pursue my MSc in Chemical Engineering, which I completed the following year. Alongside my career as a process engineer, I am deeply passionate about music. Now a full-time music director, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and creative arts director, Swansea has become home to me, especially after spending some time in London. I find Swansea a peaceful and rewarding place to settle.

One of the significant challenges I faced as an international student was the issue of tuition fees. Like many other students, I struggled with exchange rates and currency availability, which made paying fees on time incredibly difficult. This caused me immense stress, especially when the Home Office got involved with strict deadlines to leave the country. The lack of institutional support for BAME students in such situations left me feeling isolated. Since then, I’ve been involved in supporting students at Swansea University, helping them navigate these challenges through guidance and advocacy.

Additionally, securing a job in my field as a chemical engineer was almost impossible. After four consecutive years of applying to Tata Steel and being rejected, I decided to focus on my music career. During my time working in a care company, I faced discrimination, receiving lower pay and unfair treatment compared to my white colleagues, despite working more shifts. These experiences have shown me how difficult it can be for people of color to advance in their careers, especially in certain industries.

One of my proudest contributions has been supporting students facing similar struggles with tuition fees and other academic challenges. As a faith leader in my church, I’ve provided moral, emotional, and practical support to students, helping them with everything from writing extenuating circumstances letters to visa extensions and appeals.

As a musician, I started performing with the “Jazzy Africana Band” in 2012, led by the late Chief Gbubemi Amas, who became a mentor to me. Through this group, I’ve had the opportunity to bring joy to the community, performing at various venues in Wales. I also lead the Victory Choir, a gospel choir that supports charitable causes in Swansea, including summer performances at care homes, bringing comfort and relief to residents and staff.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was honoured to be recognized as a community champion by the BBC and the Welsh Government for my work with the Victory Choir. I created weekly audiovisual content to keep worship services going during the lockdown, ensuring the faith community stayed connected. I currently run a free online piano course for young people and am proud to contribute to the community through these initiatives.

My engagement with the community is primarily through my music and faith-based initiatives. By organising and leading musical performances, I connect with a wide range of people in Swansea, particularly through charity events and outreach programs. My work with the Victory Choir allows me to support charitable causes and bring comfort to vulnerable groups, while my involvement in mentoring and supporting students helps me address some of the challenges faced by the black community in Swansea.

Attitudes towards diversity, inclusion, and racial equality often stem from perceptions, which can be influenced by showcasing the talents and contributions of BAME individuals. We need to be the best in our fields, excel in our work, and make our successes visible to challenge negative stereotypes. As we continue to contribute positively to the community, attitudes will shift, leading to greater respect and policy changes that foster inclusion. It’s up to us to project our best and create a narrative of excellence that can’t be ignored.

My advice to young people is to surround yourself with a supportive community. Join BAME societies, faith-based organisations, or social groups that can offer guidance and encouragement. Connections are crucial for growth, and I’ve benefited from groups like Jazzy Africana and Race Council Cymru, where I’ve had opportunities to perform, showcase my music, and build a professional profile. Don’t be afraid to share your gifts and skills; they are valuable to the community. Remember, “the gift of a man maketh room for him.” Collaborate, support each other, and continue to push forward.

Fy enw i yw Temitope Ayomide Olabode. Rwy’n dod yn wreiddiol o Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, a symudais i Abertawe yn 2012 i ddilyn fy MSc mewn Peirianneg Gemegol, a gwblheais y flwyddyn ganlynol. Ochr yn ochr â fy ngyrfa fel peiriannydd prosesau, rwy’n angerddol iawn am gerddoriaeth. Bellach yn gyfarwyddwr cerdd llawn amser, cynhyrchydd, aml-offerynnwr, a chyfarwyddwr celfyddydau creadigol, mae Abertawe wedi dod yn gartref i mi, yn enwedig ar ôl treulio peth amser yn Llundain. Rwy’n gweld Abertawe yn le heddychlon a gwerth chweil i ymgartrefu ynddo.

Un o’r heriau sylweddol a wynebais fel myfyriwr rhyngwladol oedd mater ffioedd dysgu. Fel llawer o fyfyrwyr eraill, roeddwn yn cael trafferth gyda chyfraddau cyfnewid ac argaeledd arian cyfred, a oedd yn gwneud talu ffioedd ar amser yn anhygoel o anodd. Achosodd hyn straen aruthrol i mi, yn enwedig pan aeth y Swyddfa Gartref i ymwneud â therfynau amser llym i adael y wlad. Roedd diffyg cefnogaeth sefydliadol i fyfyrwyr Du, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol mewn sefyllfaoedd o’r fath yn achosi i mi deimlo’n unig. Ers hynny, rwyf wedi bod yn ymwneud â chefnogi myfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe, gan eu helpu i lywio’r heriau hyn trwy arweiniad ac eiriolaeth.

Yn ogystal, roedd sicrhau swydd yn fy maes fel peiriannydd cemegol bron yn amhosibl. Ar ôl pedair blynedd yn olynol o wneud cais i Tata Steel a chael fy ngwrthod, penderfynais ganolbwyntio ar fy ngyrfa gerddoriaeth. Yn ystod fy amser yn gweithio mewn cwmni gofal, roeddwn yn wynebu gwahaniaethu, gan dderbyn tâl is a thriniaeth annheg o gymharu â fy nghydweithwyr gwyn, er gwaethaf gweithio mwy o shifftiau. Mae’r profiadau hyn wedi dangos i mi pa mor anodd y gall fod i bobl o liw symud ymlaen yn eu gyrfaoedd, yn enwedig mewn rhai diwydiannau.

Un o’m cyfraniadau mwyaf balch fu cefnogi myfyrwyr sy’n wynebu anawsterau tebyg gyda ffioedd dysgu a heriau academaidd eraill. Fel arweinydd ffydd yn fy eglwys, rydw i wedi darparu cefnogaeth foesol, emosiynol ac ymarferol i fyfyrwyr, gan eu helpu gyda phopeth o ysgrifennu llythyrau amgylchiadau esgusodol i estyniadau fisa ac apeliadau.

Fel cerddor, dechreuais berfformio gyda’r “Jazzy Africana Band” yn 2012, dan arweiniad y diweddar Chief Gbubemi Amas, a ddaeth yn fentor i mi. Trwy’r grŵp hwn, rydw i wedi cael y cyfle i ddod â llawenydd i’r gymuned, gan berfformio mewn lleoliadau amrywiol yng Nghymru. Rwyf hefyd yn arwain y Victory Choir, côr gospel sy’n cefnogi achosion elusennol yn Abertawe, gan gynnwys perfformiadau haf mewn cartrefi gofal, gan ddod â chysur a rhyddhad i breswylwyr a staff.

Yn ystod pandemig COVID-19, roedd yn anrhydedd i mi gael fy nghydnabod fel hyrwyddwr cymunedol gan y BBC a Llywodraeth Cymru am fy ngwaith gyda’r Victory Choir. Creais gynnwys clyweledol wythnosol i gadw gwasanaethau addoli i fynd yn ystod y cyfnod cloi, gan sicrhau bod y gymuned ffydd yn aros yn gysylltiedig. Ar hyn o bryd rwy’n cynnal cwrs piano ar-lein am ddim i bobl ifanc ac rwy’n falch o gyfrannu at y gymuned drwy’r mentrau hyn.

Mae fy ymgysylltiad â’r gymuned yn bennaf trwy fy mentrau cerddoriaeth a ffydd. Drwy drefnu ac arwain perfformiadau cerddorol, rwy’n cysylltu ag ystod eang o bobl yn Abertawe, yn enwedig drwy ddigwyddiadau elusennol a rhaglenni allgymorth. Mae fy ngwaith gyda’r Victory Choir yn fy ngalluogi i gefnogi achosion elusennol a dod â chysur i grwpiau agored i niwed, tra bod fy ymwneud â mentora a chefnogi myfyrwyr yn fy helpu i fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r heriau a wynebir gan y gymuned Ddu yn Abertawe.

Mae agweddau tuag at amrywiaeth, cynhwysiant a chydraddoldeb hiliol yn aml yn deillio o ganfyddiadau, y gellir dylanwadu arnynt drwy arddangos doniau a chyfraniadau unigolion Du, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol. Mae angen i ni fod y gorau yn ein meysydd, rhagori yn ein gwaith, a gwneud ein llwyddiannau yn weladwy i herio stereoteipiau negyddol. Wrth i ni barhau i gyfrannu’n gadarnhaol at y gymuned, bydd agweddau’n newid, gan arwain at fwy o barch a newidiadau polisi sy’n meithrin cynhwysiant. Mae i fyny i ni i gyflwyno ein gorau a chreu naratif o ragoriaeth na ellir ei anwybyddu.

Fy nghyngor i bobl ifanc yw amgylchynu eich hun gyda chymuned gefnogol. Ymunwch â chymdeithasau Du, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol, sefydliadau ffydd, neu grwpiau cymdeithasol a all gynnig arweiniad ac anogaeth. Mae cysylltiadau yn hanfodol ar gyfer twf, ac rydw i wedi elwa o grwpiau fel Jazzy Africana a Race Council Cymru, lle rydw i wedi cael cyfleoedd i berfformio, arddangos fy ngherddoriaeth, ac adeiladu proffil proffesiynol. Peidiwch â bod ofn rhannu eich doniau a’ch sgiliau; maent yn werthfawr i’r gymuned. Cofiwch, “the gift of a man maketh room for him.” Cydweithiwch, cefnogwch eich gilydd, a pharhewch i wthio ymlaen.