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Our Chief reporter on events that reflect culture, history and heritage in Newham

A book and a British Telecom rotary telephone — Photo: Neandra Etienne

Home truths that protect the legacy of Windrush

HOME: Remembering the Windrush Generation exhibition is an insight into a Caribbean front room of the Windrush era.

Author and Curator Tony Fairweather wanted to preserve the items and culture of the Windrush generation, because he discovered that the Caribbean community were throwing away their 1950s-1990s objects and items.

Tony explained to Newham Voices why he wanted the touring exhibition of artefacts to be included in the Newham Windrush events programme.

“Newham houses many of the Windrush generation, this is an opportunity in this 75th Windrush anniversary year to show the lifestyle of this pioneering generation. It is important to show the history of the Windrush people so the younger generation can understand what they went through to make England a better place for them to live in.”

Newham-based Mixed Media artist Marilyn Fontaine was commissioned by Newham to create an exhibition alongside the “At Home” installation at Old Town Hall Stratford.

The exhibition, A Proud Inheritance, includes a Community “Giant” Photo album. The album will be given to Newham archives so that more images can be added in the future.

HOME: Remembering the Windrush Generation, 1-12 August Proud Inheritance – Keeping Stories Alive, Old Town Hall Stratford, 9 August.

newhamwindrushday.org

Newham to host UK Black Pride

UK Black Pride will commemorate its 18th year as the UK’s most inclusive Pride event, with the theme of LEGACY. Black Pride, the world’s largest celebration of Black and POC LGBTQIA+ people returns to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, after a successful record breaking 2022 event.

UK Black Pride co-founder and Executive Director Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah said: “UK Black Pride has gone from strength to strength over the last 18 years and we are so proud to have continuously given the community a space and platform to live and love unapologetically.

“We want our communities, on a collective and also an individual level, to think about what they want to leave behind and how we can continue to move to a more inclusive future”.

UK Black Pride will be free to attend on Saturday, 19 August. www.ukblackpride.org.uk

Kele Le Roc pays homage to Prince

A photo of Kele Le Roc — Photo: Veronika Vee Marx

Singer, songwriter Kele Le Roc, who grew up in East Ham and Forest Gate, is dedicating her new single I wanna B UR Lover to the late artist Prince.

Kele, who has won two MOBO awards during her career, credits Newham and east London in general as having “A plethora of talent”, many of whom she grew up with and knows personally like Jammer, Jme and Masterstepz. “There was definitely something in the water.” she said.

Kele’s new single is a cover version that pays homage to Prince, her favourite artist of all time. It is part of a trilogy of his songs that she is covering. She said: “I’m really happy with my rendition. I think Prince would have liked it.” www.keleleroc.com

Trees for Mandela Day

A group of children planting trees — Photo: LLDC

Pupils from Bobby Moore Academy, South Africa’s High Commissioner Jeremiah Nyamane Mamabolo, local councillors and horticultural apprentices from the Future Gardeners programme, planted six trees along the River Lee Navigation at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to mark Nelson Mandela International Day on 18th July.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s theme for 2023, ten years after he died, emphasises collective and individual action to make a long-term, sustainable change for good. The Mandela Day campaign was set up at the request of Nelson Mandela in 2009 to honour him by working in communities rather than celebrating his birthday.

www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

McQueen blue plaque unveiled

A group of people stand beneath a blue plaque — Photo: Monika Szolle

A Newham Heritage blue plaque honouring the late fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen CBE was unveiled at a ceremony on the Carpenters Estate, Stratford to mark the end of Newham Heritage Month. Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE was joined by local residents and councillors. I attended as Creative Director for McQueen’s Heritage Month events. Sanaz Amidi, Rosetta Arts Chief Executive, also represented the family of Yvonne Humble, founder of Rosetta Arts, who mentored the young McQueen.

Student artwork showcased

St Bonaventure’s Creative Arts Summer Festival featured an art exhibition with work produced by their A-Level Fine Art, Graphics and GCSE Art students. The students used various materials that explored a variety of subject matters.

The festival also included an art auction, readings, music and a performance from the Yr10 drama club. Proceeds from the event will go to St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney

@stbons_art

This article was amended at 18.59 on 10/11/23 at request of a person featured.

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