75th Windrush anniversary to be celebrated in Elephant and Castle with music, storytelling and new documentary

Elephant and Castle-based students will reflect on their personal connection to Windrush, on the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush arriving in England later this month.
Students, staff and alumni of London College of Communication, UAL will discuss their personal connections to their Windrush family heritage as part of the event on 22 June – which will also include music, storytelling, and a screening of a new short documentary film.

The event is ‘Reimagining Our Future: A celebration of the Windrush legacy’, taking place at London College of Communication in Elephant and Castle on 22 June, 11am-1pm. The event is free and local south London residents are encouraged to attend.

Peter Badejo OBE, a choreographer, dancer and storyteller from Nigeria, will lead a storytelling session on how Windrush generations have influenced the present day as part of the event.
Visitors will also get to see the first screening of a new short documentary film ‘Inner Journeys: Levelling the Playing Field’, in which young and upcoming creatives of Caribbean heritage take us on a journey exploring their own identities and creative practices.

Maureen Salmon, curator of the event and a Senior Lecturer at London College of Communication, will then lead a discussion on Windrush. Speakers will include the director of the documentary, who goes by the name ‘r’; photographer Yves Salmon; Peter Badejo OBE; students, alumni and staff from London College of Communication; and creatives from the wider community.

Maureen Salmon said:
“With this project, we are exploring new concepts and narratives on the Windrush legacy in contemporary multi-cultural and multi-racial Britain and connections to the global pan African diasporas.

“I wanted the project to be future-facing and so, in the short documentary film, we focus on hearing the stories of young people – within the College, as well as the wider community.
“We wanted participants to feel, as they move through their lives, that they can make significant changes to society, as well as to achieve their own ambitions.

“What I have learned, and am still learning, is that policy on its own doesn’t change the world – people change the world.

London College of Communication has been based in Elephant and Castle for over 50 years, and is known for educating generations of leading filmmakers, designers, photographers and artists across the creative industries.

Previous alumni of the College include theatre director Kwame Kwei-Armah; designer of the London Underground tube map Harry Beck; star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Bimini Bon Boulash; ITV News and Loose Women presenter Charlene White; and games writer Rhianna Pratchett.

Tickets for the event are free and available from London College of Communication’s website – search ‘Reimagining Our Future’.

The event is presented by London College of Communication, UAL in collaboration with the National Windrush Museum, The Africa Centre, and Black Cultural Archives.
‘Reimagining Our Future: A celebration of the Windrush legacy’ takes place on Thursday 22 June, 11am-1pm at London College of Communcation, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6SB
Ticket booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reimagining-our-future-a-celebration-of-the-windrush-legacy-tickets-616467108717