First things first: Join me and my team as we work to bring you the latest Mandela factual film. We are calling it Memorial Day - The Farewell To Mandela.

Look, if you promise you're not dampening our enthusiasm (and that you're rather jumping onboard), we guarantee you something that you'll watch and right there wanna be a better you. Let's join hands and make Memorial Day happen.

Now what? Lamine Konkobo is the name. Amin Equiano is my byline. You're gonna call me whichever you like. I went to school loving it just for the fun of it, not caring the weight of an atom about what I would do upon leaving.

It happened I was following a path that would deliver me to journalism. And so for the last 14 years, I have been a broadcaster, serving my trade within the BBC in London. I provide insights on BBC World Service radio and television on French-speaking Africa. I host my own radio show and I produce content for BBC news sites.

Frankly, things couldn't be better for the West-African boy who used to have that impossible dream. As a result, apart from being busy serving my passion, I am full-time in the business of being grateful. Today, one focus of mine is to pass on the skills I have been lucky to acquire. And if you ask those who know, they will tell you that Lamine is also a mentor.