Actor John Boyega has disclosed that he was profoundly affected by the killing of his ten-year-old childhood friend Damilola Taylor in Peckham, south-east London, in November 2000. Boyega, who was eight years old at the time, was one of the last people to see Damilola alive before he was fatally stabbed with a broken beer bottle whilst returning home from the library. The killing of Damilola, who was murdered by two boys aged 12 and 13, became a pivotal moment in sparking national discussion about youth violence and knife crime. Boyega and his sister Grace have now spoken about their experiences at a BAFTA event ahead of a forthcoming BBC Two documentary titled 'Damilola: The Untold Story'.

The two children had become friends at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School after Damilola moved from Nigeria months before his death; both families were of Yoruba descent. Boyega has revealed that he himself came close to violence multiple times whilst growing up on the same estate, as did his sister. Now aged 34, Boyega has reflected on how the extremes of his experiences—both positive and negative—have shaped his perspective on life, and he emphasised the importance of maintaining connection to one's origins and recognising the resilience of individuals within disadvantaged communities who strive to build better futures despite challenging circumstances.