Windrush 75: What’s on in South London?

This weekend will be packed with festivals, food and music to celebrate SS Empire Windrush’s arrival at Tilbury Docks 75 years ago.

Here’s what you can expect to find in South London:

To kick things off on Friday night, Jumbi, in Copeland Road, Peckham will be hosting Windrush Legacies.

The event will be an intergenerational celebration exploring the sounds of the Caribbean. Starting at 7pm DJs will jump on the decks until the early hours of Saturday morning.

Expect Dub, Rocksteady, Reggae, Soca, Dancehall and more as well as an extra special menu for all the foodies.

For something a bit more family friendly, head down to Burgess Park in Albany Road, Walworth, where the independent festival company, Radiate Festival, will be throwing a huge Culture Weekend.

Enjoy performances from South London artists on Saturday and some special appearances from international artists on the Sunday.

Reggae artist Richie Spice will be flying in from Jamaica and Soca royalty Terri Lyons will be travelling from Trinidad to take over the stage. There will also be performances form many artists across the UK.

If you’re looking for some good food, Streatham Space Project in Sternhold Avenue, Streatham, will be serving free Jamaican food from 1pm on Saturday- but be quick, when it’s gone it’s gone. 

Their Windrush 75 event will be hosted in collaboration with The Afro Club 5 and will have a selection of performances from Caribbean artists throughout the afternoon.

You can also expect activities for kids and a marketplace selling a selection of products from black entrepreneurs.

In Peckham, the much-loved venue Peckham Levels will be hosting a one-off art exhibition, Sounds and Stories from the Windrush.

The exhibition features new commissions from five contemporary Black British/Afro-Caribbean artists inspired by individual and collective experiences of the Windrush generations.

If you’re looking to listen and learn, on Saturday afternoon the Black Cultural Archives in Windrush Square, Brixton will be launching Wasafiri 114 – ‘Windrush: Writing the Scandal.

Here you can find an essential collection of important, informed, and inspiring voices, edited by professor of Black British Literature at Durham university, Henghameh Saroukhani and professor of Postcolonial and Diaspora Literatures at Leeds university, John McLeod. 

There will also be readings by acclaimed poets, journalists, critics, artists, filmmakers and activists in a mix of advocacy and art.

(Picture: Lewisham council)