From the WMDC Press and Communications Office
REFUGEE WEEK IN
WAKEFIELD
Next
week is National Refugee Week, and Wakefield is set to mark the occasion
with a series of cultural events.
The
events have been organised by a multi agency group, including the Refugee
and Asylum Seeker Advocacy project (RASA), Wakefield Council's Community
Cohesion Team and Wakefield District Citizens Advice Bureau.
The
highlight of the week is Africa Night at Wakefield Cathedral on Friday
23rd June, starting at 7.00pm. Local TV presenter and writer Ian Clayton
will host the event, and the headline act will be Lamin and African Roots
who have performed at the Glastonbury festival.
Lamin
is from Senegambia in West Africa and his group will be playing Afro
Reggae style music. There are also a number of support acts involving
performers of all ages and backgrounds.
Africa
for All is a children's community project led by Simba Mugadza from
Zimbabwe. Celia Ndhlovu is also from Zimbabwe and will be singing and
playing the Mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean instrument. Braziloca are a
community percussion group based in Batley and have been playing together
for 5 years. Volunteers without Borders are a newly established group of
refugees from various African countries who got together to support each
other and avoid isolation, as many had come to the UK without their
families.
They
seek to help other refugees and asylum seekers to do the same, through
dance, singing and drumming. Entrance to Africa Night is free, please
contact Wakefield Council's Community Cohesion team on 01924 305735 to
find out more.
Mary
Creagh M.P. is chairing a Refugee Celebration event during the afternoon
of the 23rd June at Treacy Hall. An invited audience will hear local
refugees talking about their personal experiences of Wakefield, followed
by a discussion and musical entertainment.
Other
events taking place include an Iranian night on the 19th June and a
Kurdish night on 24 June, involving music, food and dance. Iranian night
will feature performances from Behrouz who played violin with the Iranian
National Philharmonic Orchestra, and guitarist Ramtin who performed at
Wakefield Pride in 2005. The Kurdish singer Bahzad Koyee will perform on
Kurdish night who has spent many years performing at weddings and
celebrations in Kurdistan. Both of these events are taking place at
Lightwaves Leisure Centre in Wakefield, from 6pm to 10pm. Entry is by
ticket only, priced at £2.00 and available from RASA, tel 01924 368855.
School
children will also join in the celebrations with a series of school
drumming workshops being held at Snapethorpe Primary, Flanshaw Junior and
Infant, Dane Royd Junior and Infant, Heath View Primary and Pinders
Primary Schools.
Ref:
PR872
Date: 13/06/06
PREV
| INDEX | NEXT
|
