| Bring-A-Dish
August 2005
Spectacular drumming from Master Drummer
Henri Gaobi and stunning dancing from
Masked Dancer Dieudonne Siriku from the Ivory Coast
at the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Network's Bring-a-Dish
party on 19th August brought a sense of belonging, magnificence
and splendour to a truly memorable and vibrant multi-cultural
community event.
The party, the second in their series of monthly ‘Bring-a-Dish’
events to be held now on the last Saturday of each month, was
held at the Centre of Creativity in their stunning location on
West Hill Road overlooking the sea. Amongst other distinguished
guests were the mayor of Hastings, Pam
Brown and Cllr. Jay Kramer, who
praised the “wonderful atmosphere and beautiful surroundings”.
The sounds of the drums echoed for miles around St. Leonard’s,
making it impossible not to be aware of the vibrant energy
echoing from this growing creative artistic, musical and
therapeutic community.
Attended by 200 new and old participants from over 65 different
cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the event was enjoyed by people
from all walks of live, young and old alike enjoying delicious
home-cooked food from around the world.
Celebrating Cultural Diversity Networks achieves inclusiveness
fulfilling something to suit everyone’s taste, so the colorful
crowd cheered to the stunning Live Music and Dance performances,
not only by the professional Master drummers and Masked dancers
but also the
highly talented local street dancing youths.
Supported by the superbly mixed tracks from DJ Maceo Jones (J.J.)
even a highly original puppet played by local puppeteer
Koukey Joachim
and a group of masked children didn’t stop dancing all evening
long. The children’s masks were personally handcrafted during
the mask-making art workshop, lovingly facilitated by
Xaverine Bates and Gabby Kinsella.
Celebrating Cultural diversity Network also exhibited and sold
beautiful Nepalese jewellery and clothing as well as Digital
Prints by photographer and artist Oyaba Olatunji, who
attended the educational party. Late around the fire and full
moon the community honoured a local hero and activist from
the African Community:
Beauty Njerere,
who died only one week ago with songs, tears and traditional
dances.
BRING A DISH has set a precedent for future events of
high-quality world music, food, art and celebration for all
members of the local community. Marcus Doublard, Jersey-Nepalese
Director of a high profile and local web design company Doublard
Design Ltd. said “I have seen more multi-culture here than
anywhere else in Hastings: a microcosm of the United Nations
coming together across boundaries of ethnicity, language, age
and custom to meet one another face to face in joyful
celebration.”
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