Friends and family of a young musician who died suddenly last year gathered on Saturday to help others on what would have been his birthday.

Aspiring musician and keen footballer Anthony ‘Diktion’ Bayele, 22, from Mill Hill, suffered from heart failure in November, days before releasing his second EP.

Nearly 200 people gathered at Mill Hill Powerleague for food and a five-a-side football tournament to raise money to help release his EP and launch the careers of other young musicians.

Mr Bayele’s mother GP Rebecca Bayele said she felt very comforted seeing so many who knew and loved her son at the event.

She said: “Football and music were Tony’s passions since childhood. His death was a waste. He was a vibrant and beautiful person who had so much.”

The event was organised by Mr Bayele’s friend Joe Tanner, 22, and Gary Wilson, 27 who was producing Mr Bayele’s EP when he died.

Dr Bayele added: “I am so grateful his friends put so much effort into arranging today, it shows we are not grieving alone. The fact so many people have gathered here shows how much he meant to everyone.

“The weather has been lovely too, that’s Tony sitting up there saying ‘don’t rain today, it’s my day.”

Mr Wilson said Mr Bayele was known as ‘Diktion’ because his rap songs were “so lyrical and complex you’d need a dictionary to understand them.”

In his memory, Mr Wilson and Mr Tanner have created the Diktion Project to help other young artists launch their careers.

Mr Wilson said: “Joe and I met at Anthony’s funeral. I suggested we do something to give Anthony a legacy. Anthony was a talented musician but lacked contacts.

“We’ll put talented young people in touch with industry professionals who could launch their careers.”

Mr Bayele’s brother Arthur, 18, who played in the tournament, said it was a “big surprise” so many people had come and his brother would have really enjoyed the day had he been alive.

He added: “The Diktion project is strong, it’s a powerful cause.”

Mr Tanner said: “The day was fantastic, though I didn’t know it would be such hard work to organise. I was really impressed by the turnout.

“The tournament was won by a team called UN who donated £100 of the £250 prize money to the Diktion project, which was very generous of them.

“We’re looking forward to the next stages, which is the launch of the EP on Saturday and the clothing line.

"I’m also launching my website, Smart Workers, which was born from the Diktion project and will continue the work of helping young artists in Barnet.”