Sheikh Shahnawaz

Lozells is very unique and it’s honestly a great place to live

Despite becoming a social media star to directing a show featured on Amazon Prime, Sheikh Shahnawaz has never forgotten his roots.

Born and raised in Lozells, Sheikh works as a film producer and director. He creates videos for charities as well as short films which he posts on his YouTube channel. He’s also the director of a show that has been featured on Amazon Prime called “Bluff”.

Sheikh says, “I am a film-maker and video producer from Lozells. [I was] born and raised here. I’ve been making videos for a bunch of charities, CICs (Community Interest Companies) in the community as well as in my own time, making short narrative films and now a featured film called ‘Bluff’ which is out on Amazon Prime”.

As one of the most deprived wards in Birmingham, Lozells has faced many riots and disturbances. As a part of Lozells’ younger generation, Sheikh describes his experiences regarding this issue by saying, “I remember on Sky TV or a news program, there was the local chippy, Asif's chippy, and a bunch of guys rushed it and started beating up one of the workers. I remember it was very finite actually. It’s the most explicit memory I have of the disturbances… There was also the disturbances in 2011 but it wasn’t really a riot, it was more looting”.
 
As with a riot in any community, the response is normally what follows up as a means of solving intracommunal issues. Regarding this topic, Sheikh says, “In 2005, I was too young to really remember what the community did afterwards. I do remember seeing stuff on the news where someone held a rally, there was an Asian guy on stage and there was loads of Afro-Caribbean’s in the audience. He was trying to get the community to come together”. He goes on to say that there is a common understanding among residents that Lozells is a deprived area hence everybody needs to unify.

Covid-19 brought fears out of people that were never realised before. Residents in the Lozells area were no different. Sheikh remembers it being very tough on the community. He goes on to say that a lot of people passed away, especially first-generation immigrants. Furthermore, he says that it hit BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) individuals very hard in comparison to the rest of the population. Despite this, however, the community managed to maintain its unity. Neighbours would check up on each other and vaccination centres were being opened up at a rapid pace, ensuring that the severity risk of Covid-19 lessened hence ensuring the safety of the community.

A diverse but small ward, Lozells has seen many changes over the years. Sheikh has been witness to this. He compares the situation now to many years ago when he saw much more violence in the area. Robbery was common, with bicycles being stolen however Lozells is much safer now. Sheikh comments on how the situation has changed by saying that everybody gets along in the community. To summarise, Sheikh ends off by saying, “Lozells is very unique and it’s honestly a great place to live”.