From The Gold Coast To Electric Avenue: Standard

Ashia Cobblah a Ghanaian pensioner, now in her 80’s who originally wanted to be a nun an idea that was refused by her mother. She eventually leaves Ghana for the UK where she ended up creating a legacy for herself in the famous Brixton’s Electric Avenue.

In 1976, she started The Ashia Hair Design Salon which fast became a hub for meshing the relationship between Africans and the Caribbean through a medium of Beauty. Ashia made a noted impact on the Hairdressing world from the late 1970s to the early 1990s providing an overall service to the black and mixed-race community.

Recounting experiences of the days, Ashia said; “The Brixton I knew so fondly as a young Ghanaian business owner is sadly no more. This book is an insight into my journey from, The Gold Coast To Electric Avenue, Brixton. I recalled my friendly bank manager in Brixton High Road said: “I’m pleased you want to open a business in the area as Brixton is quiet and in need of regeneration.” In the 1970s to the 1990s as a black business owner, it was good for me to start off my business in Brixton as a means of bringing revenue to a black area. I was one of the few business owners who stood and maintained our businesses in the midst of the 1980s and 1990’s riots, where racism and injustice were rife.”

“Although Brixton was regarded by the media as a poor area at the time, however, some of her customers still came in their Rolls Royce and private cars, despite the bad publicity. She noted.

“I wanted to do my bit to improve the image concerning Brixton. Brixton provided me with some of the best memories and lessons of that chapter of my life.”  She concludes.

This is an exciting account of Ashia’s journey.