A series of events and activities:
Windrush history online
Leading up to Windrush Day, Lambeth Archives will be posting daily, selecting and highlighting documents and images from its collections that help tell the story of the Windrush Generation in Lambeth. This will include portrait photos of Windrush families as well as a look at some of the streets and estates (many since demolished) where families arriving in Brixton first got to live. Twitter and Instagram: @LambethArchives
Before and after Windrush, a history of Black people in Lambeth - Thursday 18 June, 6.45pm
An illustrated online talk by Lambeth archivist Jon Newman, looking at the history of the Black presence in Lambeth from the 17th century up to arrival of the Windrush Generation after 1948. To book a place and receive log-in details, email: archives@lambeth.gov.uk
Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation with author Colin Grant - Friday 19 June, 6pm
Online: For the log-in details book at Eventbrite. Colin Grant is a historian and author of four highly praised books, he is an Associate Fellow in the Centre for Caribbean Studies and teaches creative non-fiction writing. Homecoming draws on over a hundred first-hand interviews of the Windrush Generation, archival recordings and memoirs by the women and men who came to Britain from the West Indies. In their own words, we witness the transition from the optimism of the first post-war arrivals to the race riots of the late 1950s. These are stories of hope and regret, of triumphs and challenges, brimming with humour, anger and wisdom. Together, they reveal a rich tapestry of Caribbean British lives. Join Colin to discuss the Windrush generation.
Windrush: Portrait of a Generation – The Grocia Family - Sunday 21 June, 4pm
Lambeth Libraries Instagram account. From Jim Grover’s photographic exhibition 'Windrush: Portrait of a Generation', which featured the lives of south London first generation Caribbean migrants, Sandra Grocia - reads from her parents featured story.
Winston Nzinga – Windrush Storytime - Monday 22 June, 10am
Lambeth Libraries Instagram account.Old time stories come back again. Come and join in the fun. Play along with a drum, a shaker or bell. Listen and sing along with Winston Nzinga recounting special Caribbean folk stories with music and song from the Windrush generation. A lively storytime, where you will hear and be entertained by traditional tales. Ages 5 years and above.
Windrush Day Celebration: sing for Windrush - Monday 22 June, 10:27am
The Brixton Project and Lambeth Council are organising a literally all-singing, all-dancing celebration of the Windrush Generation on 22 June at 10:27am (referencing the 1,027 passengers aboard the Empire Windrush when it docked at Tilbury on 22 June 1948). Working with local musicians and community groups, the plan is to for everyone in the borough to join a unique Lambeth-wide door step rendition of the Desmond Dekker song ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ in a new and social distancing friendly Windrush Day 2020 celebration.
Colourful Radio, at colourfulradio.com, will be broadcasting the song, and everyone is encouraged to tune in. There is also a Windrush art and activities pack, created by a Brixton-based artist Carolyne Hill, to support the celebration. It contains a specially designed motif which features on posters for people to decorate and then put in their windows, on their front doors and in their gardens. There is also Windrush bunting for people to decorate and hang out.
The lyrics, artwork and special activities do to on the day can be downloaded from love.lambeth.gov.uk/
This year’s Windrush celebration was developed during the Covid-19 lockdown and has been inspired by the weekly Clap for Carers and the huge contribution members of the Windrush generation have made in the battle against the coronavirus – often at great personal cost.
Lambeth Libraries Wriggle & Rhyme for under 5s - Monday 22 June, 10.30am to 11am
Facebook live @ Facebook/Lambeth Libraries: Wriggle and Rhyme Online. Lambeth Libraries brings your Wriggle and Rhyme live in your home! Join our librarians for songs, stories and rhymes for the under 5s. All with a Windrush theme.
Take the Windrush Reading Challenge
Check out the Windrush Reading challenge? See how many you've read, pick up a recommendation or authors to inspire you! On Twitter? Follow @Lamlibs and join the conversation by letting Lambeth Libraries know which Windrush books you are reading.
More on all the local activities on Windrush Day can be found here.
Windrush performance project: Mapping Lives
492 Korna Klub is an interactive community radio drama series on Galaxy FM 102.5, originally conceived by Tony Cealy. Mapping Lives will be an online performance project to celebrate and commemorate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants to the life and culture of the UK. Tony is keen that these people form part of the creative team that delivers the performances. There will be a series of on-line weekly performance workshops and other activities, leading towards performances later this year. Weekly sessions will start on Wednesday 1 July, continuing every Wednesday at 11am to 1:30pm. No experience needed and no charge - for further information contact Tony at tctonycealy@gmail.com. See our earlier story here.
British Library: Windrush Stories
Lots of background stories here, including an essay by Andrea Levy and one on Calypso and the birth of British black music.
