Grime artist Wiley supports calls for statue in Bow

A grime musician has said he would “love to see” a statue of himself erected in Bow, after a petition was started calling for the statue last week.

Rapper and producer Richard Cowie, known as Wiley, who grew up in Bow, said he was “honoured” by the idea of a statue in the area that inspired his music.

The statue was proposed by Julie Adenuga, drive-time DJ on Rinse FM, on October 9, who started an online petition asking the council to display the statue to recognise Wiley’s work and what it has meant to people in London.

Wiley’s manager John Woolf, speaking to the East London Advertiser, said: “He feels very honoured that people are putting him forward for this and he would love to see it happen, as Bow and E3 is an area that helped inspire him and helped him to inspire others musically.”

Wiley, whose hit singles include Heatwave and Never Be Your Woman, is considered a pioneer by many in the underground music scene.

The petition, which suggests the statue could be placed in Mile End Park, has already met it’s target of 1,000 signatures, with 3,890 people supporting the idea.

It said: “We the people feel very passionate about the public figures in our community who have helped shape our culture and environment as we’ve grown up from teenagers to young adults to mothers and fathers.

“Richard Cowie (aka Wiley) has undoubtedly inspired an entire generation [and is] a man who has put his heart and soul into what he believes in and consistently shows passion and perseverance.”

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “I am always happy to see homegrown creative talent like Wiley receive recognition.

“It is important for young people to pursue creativity and we have strong arts and music education in the borough and apprenticeship schemes within the creative industries to help with this.”