Kofi Smiles was the BBC Face of Hull for 2017. He was born at Beverley Westwood and is of Ghanaian heritage. He talks about how African stories like ‘Anansi the Spider’ ignited his enduring passion for comic heroes such as Spider-man which later inspired him to become a writer himself. His new role in the spotlight has parallels with his earlier experience of inadvertently being at the centre of attention as a minority in first Beverley, Withernsea and then Hull. He talks about how his love for Hull was initially shaped by the excitement of trips into the city which contrasted with his rural environment at home. His hope for 2017 and beyond is for people to pause, take note and engage with the changes within the city as it continues to transform.

This interview was recorded as part of the ‘African Stories – Contemporary Voices’ project. You can read a full transcript of this interview over on the African Stories website by clicking here.