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

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