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Bristol buzzes to the Refugee Week rhythm

June 17 2005

Sounds from around the world will signal the start of national Refugee Week 2005.

Refugee Action in partnership with refugee community groups and Bristol City Council has planned a feast of cultural events across Bristol.

The week brings together host and refugee communities to highlight and celebrate the huge and varied contribution made by people who come to the UK in search of safety.

Ever done the rumba Congolese style? Dance the night away at the Exiles Express Dance Party, Friday, June 17, with music from across Africa.

Bring a blanket and a picnic to the Big Fun Day on Sunday, June 19 – a day of live music from the Czech Republic and Africa, world poetry, Palestinian singing workshops, Somalian dance, Chilean food, face painting, bouncy castles and later that evening at 7pm experience the world premier of a special Colombian commissioned piece on the theme of refuge.

On Wednesday June 22 indulge in Zimbabwean food, music, m’bira and drumming workshops at an event organized by Bristol Zimbabwe Association.

The Exiles Express event returns on Friday June 24 with Palestinian folk songs brought to life through jazz and traditional Arabic expression with support from Kooch – an Iranian led Bristol based acoustic trio.

Refugee Week 2005 is celebrating the UK’s unsung culture of welcome.

Qerim Nuredini from Refugee Action in Bristol said: “I have been involved with Refugee Week for several years now and each year I see more and
more people enjoying themselves. It’s a time when people put issues aside and accept each other for who we are.

“It is important to celebrate diversity and promote community cohesion and Refugee Week means that refugees and host communities can share their experiences and get to know more about each other. ”

ENDS

For more information, or to request an interview, please call the press office on 020 7654 7714 or 07810 757 752 (out of hours).

Notes to Editors:

Bristol’s events in more detail
Friday June 17 Exiles Express Dance Party/Kuumba Arts - organised by Bristol City Council, Community at Heart and Refugee Action. Congolese Rumba from Soukous Kumbele, Cameroon-influenced dance music with the Helele Band among others. From 8.15pm to 1am at Kuumba Arts, 20-22 Hepburn Road, St Paul’s. £5 on the door, call 0117 9036672

Sunday June 19 Big Fun Day - organised by Tribe of Doris, Bristol City Council Welfare and Refugee Action. Singing workshops with Palestinian Reem Kelani, African dance with Marcel Kouissioue, African drumming with BiDo Irie - both from the Ivory Coast, a m’bira workshop with Fidelis Mherembi from Zimbabwe, workshops and performance by Romani Rad from Romania, music from Alphonse Daudet Touna (Cameroon) and Katus Young (Czech Republic) and music and dance from Somalia. Also on offer - international games, Chilean Food, a Chai Shop, a Poetry Tent, a Somali nomadic home, an information and wellbeing area. From 12pm to 7.30pm in Queen Square, Bristol City Centre, near Welshback. 7pm world premier of a specially commissioned piece on the theme of refuge by Colombian Composer Juan Gabriel Gutierrez, call 0845 458 0190

Wednesday June 22 Bristol Silent Refugees – giving voice to our Zimbabwean Community - organised by Bristol Zimbabwe Association, The Pierian Centre and Refugee Action. Zimbabwean food, music, m’bira and drumming workshops at The Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square from 12 midday to 12 midnight, call 0117 924 4512

Friday June 24 Exiles Express In Concert - organised by Bristol City Council, Community at Heart and Refugee Action. Reem Kelani, Palestinian artist brings Palestinian folk songs to life through jazz and traditional Arabic expression, accompanied by her unique multi-cultural band support from Kooch, an Iranian-led Bristol based acoustic trio. 8pm at the QEH Theatre, Jacob’s Well Road. Tickets £12/£10 concessions call 0117 9303082 or e-mail qehtheatre.com

Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and long-term commitment to their settlement through community development work, and received 30,000 visits from asylum seekers last year. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 24 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees.
Visit www.refugeeweek.org.uk

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