Salum, his mother, brother and step father emigrated to the UK from Tanzania in 2005. The family initially set up home in the Bow East London. In August 1998, Salum became a brother again to his sister Khanan. Salum completed his GCSEs at St Paul's Way Community School, Tower Hamlets London - where he was a popular student. Salum and the family still travelled to Zanzibar regularly and kept in touch with family from home. During the course of his life in the UK, the family moved to Colchester, Essex. Salum had a passion for Art and Music and on completion of his GCSEs went on to study Art at Tower Hamlets College. Due to the distance and cost of Salum travelling between London and Colcester it was agreed that Salum would stay with a family friend for the duration of the course. Nevertheless he would regularly stay in contact visit his mother and siblings (and vice versa.