Lambeth residents get ready to celebrate Windrush Day 2021

Lambeth residents will celebrate Windrush Day 2021 with a new anthem, educational packs and community activities.

The council hopes that Windrush Day will be a ‘real community celebration’ that will serve as a ‘meaningful, educational, and joyful tribute to the huge contribution made to British life by the Windrush Generation and their descendants’.

The premiere of Lambeth’s new Windrush Anthem, which has been specially commissioned by Pegasus Opera, and a new Windrush Emblem created by a local artist Seonaid Gowdie posted around the borough tomorrow.

The Anthem has been created as a lasting commemoration for Windrush.

The song entitled Rush has been distributed to all Lambeth schools for pupils to learn for future performances.

The theme of this year’s celebrations is titled ‘I Am Here’ and invites the community to stand in solidarity, look back in respect to the Windrush generation and look forward to a brighter future for the young people.

Residents can support this message by using the templates in the pack created by Seonaid, to help them create their own art works.

Local people can then display them in their windows, hang bunting in gardens or on front doors to make this celebration and commemoration visible.

A community arts and activities pack has been created for residents to download, and a new schools Windrush education pack has also been created.

Residents are also invited to fill Lambeth with music, at 10.27am by tuning into Colourful Radio who will be playing the Windrush song ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ which was first created for the Windrush 2020 event.

Last year schools and residents across the borough joined in the collective sing and dance along and filled the streets with music.

The time 10.27am pays tribute to the 1,027 passengers who arrived in the HMT Empire Windrush.

The Windrush Anthem produced by the renowned composer Des Oliver will premiere at 2pm in Brixton Village tomorrow (June 22) and on the Pegasus YouTube channel.

Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth’s Cabinet member for Equalities and Culture, said: “We have put together an engaging and inclusive package for Windrush day and I would invite all our residents to take part.

“This is a partnership effort that has seen Lambeth Libraries, the Black Cultural Archives, the Brixton Project and others joining this effort.

“As a member of the Windrush Generation, I understand the struggles faced by members of the British Caribbean community who were first invited to Britain to help re-build the country after World War II.

“It is important we reflect on the discrimination and challenges they faced, while also celebrating their huge contribution to all areas of British life, not least public service and the arts.

“Our Windrush Day 2021 programme really picks up on these themes.

“I hope that everyone in the borough will also join us again online, in schools, at home or in work, to once again to explore and celebrate the Windrush Generation at this time of significant social change.”

Please visit: https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/windrush-2021-i-am-here  for full details on all Windrush 2021 events for June, downloads and further links.

Programme of Events throughout Lambeth 

Intergenerational Lunch with The Dominoe’s Club, The Make A Difference Afro – Caribbean Senior Citizens Group  – Tuesday 22 June, Lost in Brixton 12-3pm

The Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury in 1948, with a small number of its elders remaining. Having experienced considerable loss and loneliness as the result of the pandemic this year, Brixton Village and The Brixton Project have teamed up to help Windrush community elders re-unite with a special celebration lunch in the village on Tuesday 22nd at Lost in Brixton. 

The Portrait Parlour – From Friday 18 June to Monday 28 June, Unit 11 Market Row, FREE Entry

Launching on Tuesday 22 June, the cultural programme will kick-off with the opening of The Portrait Parlour – an interactive installation inspired by the work of renowned photographer Harry Jacobs that will see the reimagining of the artists’ most iconic portraits from the 60s and 70s.  With thousands turning to him to record their major life events, Jacobs’ collection of works is a representation of milestones, friendship, family life and nostalgia which belied the hardship many people actually experienced.  His rich backdrops and exotic scene-setting created a context to record the ambition and aspiration of this generation in a positive portrayal to share with friends and family back home. 

Windrush Song – At 10:27am on Tuesday 22  June, played on Colourful Radio 

You Can Get It if you really Want – Recorded by a community voices in 2020

Pegasus Opera Company – Premiere showing of  ‘Rush’ The new anthem for Windrush

The Windrush anthem produced by the re-owned composer by Des Oliver will premiere at 2pm in Brixton Village and on the Pegasus YouTube channel.  The anthem has been created as a lasting commemoration for Windrush.  The song entitled Rush has been distributed to all Lambeth schools for pupils to learn for future performances. 

Brixton Village Lates Live Music Programme – Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June, Brixton Village Courtyard

A live music programme in the Brixton Village Courtyard hosted by Brixton Village Lates from Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 June will see the Windrush Day celebrations continue throughout the weekend, with a blend of live and DJ performances celebrating the Windrush community.

Black Cultural Archives 

Windrush Family Event: Saturday June 26th 11am –  4pm, Black Cultural Archives, 1 Windrush Square, SW2 1EF 

The Windrush Family Event will be a celebration of the British Caribbean community and the real people of the Windrush Generation. Authors will be reading from the Black Cultural Archives brand new Windrush children’s book, which can be bought here! There will be Q & A sessions for children with Black Cultural Archives Windrush elders. In addition a fun Windrush fact trail will be happening: follow clues to find objects, photos, and info about the Windrush journeys. Link to book tickets  is here. 

On the 22nd of  June the Black Cultural Archives’s  Learning and Engagement Manager Dr Ayshah Johnston will be in conversation with Baroness Floella Benjamin and Benjamin Zephaniah, chaired by journalist and broadcaster Kieran Yates, to further explore the themes in the book, Windrush Child, and the legacy and struggles of this unique community. This event will be taking place online and tickets can be booked here. 

In addition The Black Cultural Archives have subject guides on their website here which offer an introduction to key themes within their collections. They will also be facilitating ‘Windrush Journeys’ workshops for students,  you can register your interest here. 

Just Vibez 

Windrush Day – Tuesday 22nd June 2021 at POP Brixton 

Windrush Workshops with Know Your Caribbean and Just Vibez

Caribbean Culture 101 Learn the journey of Caribbean people, our history and culture and how the Windrush Generation impacted and shaped much of what we know in the UK. 

Know your Caribbean colouring corner for children aged 3-10 Colouring corner with a difference – children learn important histories by bringing it to life through colouring. 

Culture 101 workshop – Children learn the journey of the Caribbean story from the 1500’s to present day in a series of quick fire bursts that are both engaging and palatable for kids. Highlighting the impact of the Windrush generation and its importance and impact in the UK. 

Carnival headpiece Close off our session with learning how to make a Carnival headpiece that kids can wear whilst they enjoy the music and take home as a memory from their joyous learning session. 

*Materials supplied* Including child safe scissors – limited use. Caribbean colouring pages, colours, Glue, paper, poster card, gems, feathers.  

Windrush Workshops at The Greenhouse POP Brixton

2pm – 4pm: Local schools/classes invited to participate. 

Local schools and classes are encouraged to attend the 2pm workshop session as part of their school activity for the day. There will be capacity for about 40 children for both the 2pm and 4pm. If students are not able to attend the 2pm session they are welcome to join at 4pm with the broader public. They are asking for a voluntary contribution from workshop attendees but this is by no means mandatory.  

4pm – 6pm: Open for children/families to attend. 

Celebrating Windrush Day in Brixton – An evening of the sounds of the Caribbean! At the POP BOX 

6:00pm – Know your Caribbean will be giving a brief history of the Windrush generation and how it set the foundation for today’s Brixton. 

6:15pm – Local poets will be performing pieces inspired by the Windrush generation.  

6:20pm – A steel band will be playing West Indian classics. 

6:40pm – Calypsonian D Alberto  will be performing songs from the Windrush era and modern day classics. 

7:00pm – Local singer Floetic Lara will be performing her songs about Brixton and the Windrush era. 

7:15pm –  Just Vibez DJs and guests will be playing Reggae classics.  

8:00pm – To close  FULL WINDRUSH PARTY MODE!