‘I’VE NEVER FELT MORE CONFIDENT OR FREE’

Learning boundaries and speaking her truth have helped broadcaster Clara Amfo find peace and power in all areas of her life – and she's truly excited for what comes next

says broadcaster Clara Amfo

Clara Amfo’s feeling ‘all right’ today. Not good, not bad, the Radio 1 DJ is simply all right. Lately, her feelings have been ‘a bit of a mixed bag’, she explains. ‘Life is a lot right now. Being in lockdown, and with the world how it is, you oscillate between new levels of horror and acceptance every day, between hope and being exhausted. It’s that thing of like, one day, I am excited about the world’s future; there’s a new generation of conversation leaders, and there’s a renewed hope that the kids are going to be all right, but other days it’s like, “What is the point? Are we all screaming into the abyss?”’

We’re speaking several weeks after the horrific death of George Floyd in the US and weeks after Amfo gave an impassioned speech on air about systemic racism, police brutality and its effect on her own mental health. We’re used to her being full of unflinching mood-busting exuberance, so to hear her voice crackle with emotion as she told her truth with such raw honesty was heart-stoppingly powerful.

Did she expect her speech to resonate with so many people? ‘It was overwhelming,’ says Amfo, clearly blown away by the number of messages she received afterwards, but galvanised by the pride and power that came with speaking up. ‘I’ve witnessed what I feel is genuine transformation. Not overnight change, but I’ve definitely seen the penny drop. I’ve had messages saying, “I honestly had no idea, but now suddenly everything makes sense.” There can be these watershed moments that shift culture and shift conversation, and I’ve been privy to seeing the results of that, and that is what keeps me hopeful.’

Amfo began her career as an intern at KISS FM in 2008, aged 25, working her way up through the ranks before moving to BBC Radio 1Xtra in 2013. Two years later, she took over the reins from Fearne Cotton on the mid-morning show on BBC Radio 1, which she still

‘I’VE COME TO A PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE’

hosts, and she’s a regular face on the BBC’S festival coverage and music shows, such as The BRIT Awards, as well as hosting her own podcast. The past 10 years have propelled Amfo to new heights.

Turning 36 in May was something of a milestone, too, especially as Amfo reckons that her 30s have been the best years of her life. ‘It’s so clichéd,’ she laughs, ‘but I’ve never felt more confident and free. I’d definitely spent about a good five years being really unkind to myself. I only snapped out of it about two or three years ago. I was making terrible dating choices, I was beating myself up about any mistake I made, I couldn’t forgive myself and just wouldn’t give myself a break.’

What changed? ‘I learned boundaries. Don’t get me wrong, every day is a work in progress, but as corny as it sounds, you have to live your truth.’ For Amfo, that meant not going to work after George Floyd’s death. ‘That weekend I’d had a really hard time. I thought, “Can I honestly go to work and be like HIYA!” No, I would’ve been doing a disservice to myself and to the listeners. That was part of the pride and comfort that I have in where I am in my life – you know what, “no”, I don’t feel like going to work today because

I’m not mentally up to it. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that.

‘I think it’s that thing of when you work in a creative industry, there is that fear that you’re only as good as the last thing you did. But I’ve come to a place of acceptance, that it’s okay to hang back for a day or two. The world’s not going to end because I don’t do one radio show. If I need to take time for myself, it’s all right.’

Being able to harness positivity to counter the negativity helps, she adds. ‘Growing into that mentality has given me a new sense of calm. I can’t even waste my time being mad or upset at people who tried to accuse me of fake crying when I spoke on the radio. But what I can be happy about is that there’s a mum who’s sent me a message saying, “Clara, I heard you on the radio and I’m going to make sure I bring my kids up like this.” I think just understanding people’s psychology and my own in that way has brought me a different level of calm.’

Amfo grew up in London with four brothers, three older, one younger, and a sister from her father’s previous marriage, who came to live with the family in Amfo’s teenage years. Both her parents came to London from Ghana around 50 years ago. ‘I’m so grateful that Mum is still the same woman who came here in 1972. She really hasn’t changed and I love that. To be honest, she’s probably one of the strongest people I know,’ says Amfo

with a grin, explaining that she had ‘a bit of stroppy teenage resentment’ growing up that her mum wasn’t her best friend, like some of her pals’ mother-daughter set-ups. ‘But I understand her a lot more now. I couldn’t imagine her being any other way.’

Looking back, what words of wisdom would she impart to 16-year-old Clara? ‘Do not relax your hair, you’ll regret it,’ she laughs. ‘And you’re perfect just the way you are. You may not look like all the other girls and that’s okay – you’re not supposed to and that’s all right. That’s what I’d tell myself for sure.’

Amfo’s magnificent Instagram account Whatsappmama, which has since been archived, remains as a warm and unintentionally hilarious peek into their relationship. Her mum’s critiques on Amfo’s short dresses, or disapproval of showing too much skin on the red carpet, signed off with an abundance of fruit and veg emojis, made for entertaining – and touching – viewing.

Amfo’s dad, a microbiologist for the NHS, died suddenly five years ago, the day before she was due to run a half-marathon in Paris. While grief hasn’t gone away, she says it’s definitely evolved, as has how she remembers him. ‘I’ve never felt more like my dad than

I do now,’ Amfo explains. ‘It’s like in The Lion King. He’s there. He’s in me. But it’s true. I love that fact that I’m at a place where I can joke about it and I use humour, but it’s the honest truth. There’s so much about his personality that I know I’ve inherited. My dad was a really great orator, very sure of himself, really confident. My mantra is “What would Manny do?” My dad was by no means perfect, but all his traits that I loved, I know I’ve inherited. One of these is a sense of level-headedness. He was proud of me, but he was never impressed by me. He had that kind of thing with himself, too, he was very confident about his skill set, but he was never like “I’m the best”, he just got on with it.’

So has Amfo, by and large. ‘I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve worked bloody hard, but I’m just getting on with it and I humbly accept the love that I receive from people – whether that’s the audience or my peer group. But it’s a big world. I think the best way to humble yourself is to observe somebody else’s talent; it pushes you right back into your place.’

That said, Amfo has really played her A game in the past 12 months and it shows. At the beginning of the pandemic, she presented the One World: Together At Home concert with Dermot O’leary and Claudia Winkleman – something she describes as a career highlight – and hosted the London premiere of The Lion King remake; working her magic that night with Prince Harry and Meghan (‘She gave me a little smile which I was very happy with!’), Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams and Sir Elton John. She also launched her own podcast, This City, exploring the highs and hidden gems of London with celebrity interviewees such as Louis Theroux and Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa.

Having interviewed so many celebrities over the years, I suggest she must have some horror stories. ‘I’ve been so spoiled,’ she smiles. ‘I’ve met Kylie, she’s fab and sweet. In the same year, I got to meet Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey and I damn near collapsed. I love Mel C, too. It’s really nuts when you get to meet people who’ve shaped your childhood and teen years and they’re lovely. I’ve been really lucky that no one I’ve met has been a disappointment.’

So what does the future hold? ‘I will always want to be doing a radio show, that’s one thing I know for sure,’ she says. ‘I will always want to be broadcasting somewhere, having conversations with people and playing music. I want to write a book, and I would like to produce TV. I want to push other talent and other voices that are similar to mine, but who also aren’t similar to mine. I’m really passionate about helping creative people get to where they want to be.

‘As for the future, there’s still a lot to be done on calling out systemic racism and it’s our duty to step up. We shouldn’t be afraid of difficult conversations or the need to educate ourselves,’ says Amfo. ‘It’s a time for real change – in schools, in the curriculum, in everyday conversations that we have with those around us. True transformation, progress and change comes from those awkward conversations, right? That comes from people probably saying the wrong thing and messing up. But listen to us and take those words and use that to galvanise yourself to have conversations with your non-black friends. This is what we’re going to see – true change comes from discomfort, but that’s when the best transformations happen. That conversation has now been elevated and you can’t close that door. That genuinely excites me about the future.’

‘WE SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS’