FOLLOWING THE successful Windrush Day celebrations in June, a special first-of-a-kind event is due to take place on Saturday, November 24 at the heart of the Windrush Generation’s best established institution: the black churches.
Singing Our Story: Windrush Generations from the Front Room to the Palace will feature leading luminaries of singing and music, and other creative artisans telling the story of the music, faith and power of the church community which has impacted the very heart of British society.
The public is invited to participate and experience “the birthplace of the sound of British Gospel” in three churches in London, Birmingham and Manchester simultaneously. The event will also be streamed live on the internet.
Noted “queen of black British comedy” Angie Le Mar, the winners of Sky One’s Sing: Ultimate A Capella Vadé, MOBO award winners Lurine Cato and Volney Morgan & New Ye, and Carla Jane, Fiona York, Paul Lee and Ken Burton and the London Adventist Chorale are all taking part.
And a number of gospel groups who were popular in the 1980s and 90s, including the Doyleys, The Majestics and Merrybells Choir, are reuniting to perform at this unique event.
Angie Le Mar said: “The church is one of the most influential organisations within the black community. I’m glad to be part of an event which celebrates and highlights the impact it’s had on the lives of the Windrush Generation and wider society.”
Bazil Meade, dubbed “the godfather of British Gospel”, is the founder of the UK’s most celebrated gospel collective – the London Community Gospel Choir – and earlier this year received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to the music industry.
He said: “We’re all ecstatic about this great music that helped our parents and pioneers to strive, overcome and articulate through music hope and inspiration.
“Many people are unaware of the back stories that have given us opportunities.
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“It’s shaped our lives and given us this incredible ability to share and engage with people regardless of who and where they come from.
“Technology is allowing us an unprecedented opportunity across the cities and, through live streaming, out to the world. We will sing our story: it’s an untold story for the generations and the public to experience, learn and understand. It really is going to be an amazing time.”
This initiative also has the support of the Windrush Foundation.
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It should be Her Majesty; Senior Parliamentarians, the English Bankers, the BBC, Trade Unions, Left & Right-wing academics and England’s Public and Corporate institutions who ought to be celebrating the “Windrush generation” specifically; and the massive historical contribution of African and Caribbean people’s 500-year relationship between the English and African-heritage people.
Her Majesty’s Subjects of African and Caribbean heritage will remain marginalised and socially-inferior until England’s Caucasian people and institutions rejoice; honour and offer worthy celebration to the English Empire’s African-heritage men and women’s incredible fealty; loyalty and care for Her Majesty and the people and institutions of England.
It is written; “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
For African-heritage people the English were valued as “friends.”
For the English people and institutions, the African were merely expendable low-status beings not worthy of English recognition; honour or praise.
Over 160,000 Africans offered their life in defence of the English and the English Empire during England’s First European Trade War that started in 1914.
It should not be Ms Marcia Dixon and England’s African-heritage people celebrating the “Windrush” arrival and contribution.
If England was a just nation with honourable values, the “Windrush” celebration would be led by Her Majesty; the leading Parliamentarians, the captains of Industry and Academia, the Archbishop and many others.
Compensation still have not been paid to the majority of the Windrush generation who were illegally exiled to the Caribbean in 2018.
This speaks loudly to how little Her Majesty’s Parliament still regards the life and experience of Her Majesty’s Subjects of African-Caribbean heritage today.