DEATH ‘HUGE LOSS FOR MUSIC SCENE’
TRIBUTES have been paid to a “charismatic, caring and loving” Cardiff DJ who died suddenly of a heart attack aged just 45. Raheem Makani was a popular figure in Cardiff having worked as a DJ in different clubs and bars across the city for over two decades. Alongside this, Raheem was most recently known for his role as a DJ and Radio presenter on Radio Cardiff and formerly Kiss FM.
The 45-year-old from Roath has been described by his closest friends as somebody who “loved life” and “had so much to live for”.
Raheem suffered a sudden heart attack on Friday, January 29, and sadly died on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, after a period in intensive care.
Paying tribute to his “brother”, Raheem’s close friend Matt Zain described him as “full of life”.
“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body”, said Matt.
“He was charismatic, caring, funny, loving – he was everybody’s ‘brother’. It’s a big blow to everyone who knew him and the kind person he was.”
Raheem was a carer for his elderly mother Khatun, a role Matt and his partner Konsa Micallef said he loved.
“She was his world,” said Konsa. “And not only was he her carer, but he loved doing it, she is absolutely heartbroken. Our hearts really go out to all his family and his close friends whom have been a massive support to his mum throughout this entire time.”
Matt said “everybody knew Raheem” and that due to his recent radio shows he was given the nickname “radio Raheem” by those close to him.
In his honour, Radio Cardiff has also dedicated a room in his name to offer support and help to those who need it.
Konsa said: “Raheem was all about helping others to get themselves on the right track, it was something he always did with anyone he met who needed guidance and support so to keep this going in his name is beautiful.”
Matt first met Raheem in the ’90s when they both worked in the music scene in Cardiff.
Raheem was a well known DJ in several bars across the city and UK, including Mocka Lounge, The Philharmonic and RSVP – now known as The Owain Glyndwr pub among many more.
“Raheem lived for music, he was always gagging to get up on the decks ever since I met him,” said Matt.
“In Cardiff, he really was ahead of his time when it came to music and the R&B scene. His knowledge of the music scene was through the roof, and not just R&B, he expanded to all genres. A lot of people in the music scene would go to him for advice and lots worked with him at some point or the other; he taught lots of the young DJs in Cardiff today.
“I met him in the ’90s and remember he would be down the record shop every Saturday. In those days, it wasn’t like it is now, to be the big DJs you’d have to have the latest record and Raheem always made sure he did. He always made sure he had them all and I remember him lugging them all across town, you never knew the angle which the music was going to go. It’s a huge loss for the music scene in Cardiff.”
As well as the music scene, Raheem was interested in cooking and keeping fit.
“He loved going to the gym, he was building his own personal gym because he liked to keep fit and healthy. He did yoga religiously every Sunday.
“He was in a really good place, with an incredible future ahead of him,” said Matt.
“He was also a chair for the propel panel with Neil McEvoy in the Senedd. Raheem was excited to help make a change for the people of Cardiff city.”
Matt said that despite the coronavirus lockdown, Raheem had been getting back into music and had been looking forward to the future. As well as his radio show, he was hoping to launch a podcast combining his love for food with music.
“He loved cooking, and was always cooking for his mum,” said Konsa.
“When we were having a rough time you’d come home and he would have left something he had made for you. He was just like that, always thinking of others.”
Matt said that not only was it devastating to those close to him to lose Raheem, but he would also be missed by Cardiff and all who knew him.
“He had so much to live for,” said Matt.
“His personality got him to be so well liked by everyone who knew him and it’s such a big loss. It’s a big blow for us all but it’s also a big blow for Cardiff too to lose a character like Raheem. Everyone has been absolutely incredible, to see how much love people have for Raheem is amazing to see. He was very well loved, we feel like we have lost a family member.
“He was everyone’s brother. From his days in the clubs he knew people from all different communities and just loved people. For Raheem everyone deserves a chance in life and he was all about giving them that.”
THE European Union has called on China to reverse its ban on the BBC World News television channel imposed in apparent retaliation for Britain’s withdrawal of the licence of Chinese broadcaster CGTN.
The EU said Beijing’s move further restricted “freedom of expression and access to information inside its borders”, and violated the Chinese constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The statement said Hong Kong’s announcement that its public broadcaster would also stop carrying BBC broadcasts added to the “erosion of the rights and freedoms that is ongoing” in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory since the imposition last year of a sweeping new national security law.
“The EU remains strongly committed to safeguarding media freedom and pluralism, as well as protecting the right to freedom of expression online and offline, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference of any kind,” the statement said.
THE Prince of Wales is encouraging children to take up his half-term challenge and discover the natural world.
Charles, left, has set inquisitive youngsters six tasks, from spotting birds and planting seeds to decorating pebbles, stones or shells during the school break next week.
In a video message to launch the project, he admitted he was “frustrated” about not being unable to get outside as much as he would like during the pandemic, and how it had been “an incredibly hard year for everyone”.
But he went on to say: “So, here’s a challenge for you. While you have a little time off from all your online learning, can you encourage your family to go out with you to take a really close look at the wonderful things nature is now doing, and how the same patterns occur over and over again?”
HEARTLESS romance scammers conned lonely women and men in North Wales out of more than £1m in a nine-month period, it’s been revealed.
According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, nearly 40 victims were duped out of an average of £30,000 each by the cruel fraudsters.
The shock figures were revealed by Mr Jones in a Valentine’s Day warning for people to be on their guard against the callous con merchants.
One case involved a 60-year-oldwoman who was tricked into sending £59,000 to a callous heartbreaker over a period of three and a half years.
She met the suspect on a dating website and the alarm was first raised by her bank due to the unusual activity on her account.
The woman was said to be “distraught” when she discovered she’d been scammed.
Tackling fraud is a key priority in Mr Jones’ Police and Crime Plan, the blueprint for policing North Wales. As well as setting up an Economic Crime Unit to crack down on fraudsters, the police and crime commissioner has provided funding to pay for a dedicated officer to support fraud victims, based at the Victim Help Centre in St Asaph which serves the whole of North Wales.
The centre brings together the support services of North Wales Police, the Witness Care Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the former Victim Support organisation.
Each victim receives a response specifically tailored to their situation and the centre.
The latest figures available show that during the nine-month period from April to December 2020, there were 39 vulnerable victims of romance fraud reported to North Wales Police. Between them they lost a total of £1,180,196, an average loss each of £30,261.