Stormzy, the acclaimed British musician and philanthropist, has been elected an honorary fellow of Jesus College at the University of Cambridge. The 32-year-old, whose real name is Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, was nominated in recognition of his cultural impact and philanthropic work, particularly his Stormzy Scholarship programme launched at the university in 2018.
This is the second accolade Stormzy has received from Cambridge. In June, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Law for the scholarship programme, which funds Black UK students to study at the prestigious institution. To date, 68 students have been supported by the programme, backed by his #Merky Foundation, with 2025 set to be the largest cohort yet.
Sonita Alleyne, the master of Jesus College, said: 'Stormzy is an amazing storyteller, creative mind and champion for social change. His cultural impact is huge. We share many values, including supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds to reach their potential, tackling inequalities and using the arts as a force for good. In joining the college, we believe he will inspire our current and future students and enrich our community.'
Stormzy, one of four siblings raised in south London by his Ghanaian mother, rose to fame a decade ago with his freestyle 'Shut Up'. He has since topped album and single charts repeatedly, while using his influence to champion social justice. In 2020, he founded the #Merky Foundation, pledging £10 million over 10 years to support racial equality and justice reform. He also launched #Merky FC with Adidas in 2022 to promote off-field Black talent in football.
Beyond music, Stormzy's ventures extend to publishing, theatre and film-making. He received an honorary degree from the University of Exeter in 2022 for his contributions to higher education and philanthropy. Stormzy was elected alongside Julia Longbottom, a Jesus College graduate and British ambassador to Japan since 2021.
