Big Help Project presents: Windrush 75th
On Saturday 3rd June we held the first event of our 2023 Windrush commemoration, named ‘Windrush 75th’. The event was held at the Lutyen’s Crypt at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and served as a celebration of those who arrived on the HMT Empire Windrush, and their being an integral part of British culture and society, as we near its 75th anniversary.
The exhibition was filled with art, music, and speeches celebrating the heritage of Liverpool’s Black community, but also acknowledging the adversity still faced by their communities today. Speakers on the day included Kim Johnson MP, Barbara Phillips - daughter of Lord Woodbine - Andre Jahnoi, Sonia Bassey MBE, and Levi Tafari. Having such prominent voices from Liverpool’s Black community as spokespeople for the event was an incredibly vital element of our efforts to commemorate the Windrush generation and their legacy, with personal accounts and stories being introduced to those who may otherwise have never become acquainted with the city’s rich history and the evolution of its culture.
Surrounding the space were numerous pieces of art donated by various artists and consisted of all mediums - paintings, poetry, photography - that told stories and showcased their lives and experiences. Big Help are incredibly grateful for the number of creatives who kindly donated their art and talent in celebration of Windrush’s 75th anniversary. Artists included Anthony Wilde of Street Magazine, Simone Yasmin - self professed ‘artivist’ - displaying their poetry, SHARPTXNGUE - aka Olamide Florence Adeoye - (illustrator and comic artist), fine artist Jioni Warner, and Billy Vitch showcasing his rock photography.
Catering the event was Eat Up Gud, a Toxteth-based Caribbean food company/street vendor, which was a huge success with attendees. Black-British culture has notably been incredibly influential on the cuisine that is popular in our society, and we were proud to showcase that.
This event was created with the intention of providing education alongside celebration, commemorating those who arrived on the HMT Empire Windrush whilst also remembering that many of those who did - and whose family did - remain in Liverpool and have forged the incredibly vibrant, creative, rich culture and society that we know and recognise.
Big Help’s second Windrush event will be a screening of ‘Everything - The Real Thing Story’ at the Cavern Club on the 29th June, followed by a Q&A with Chris Amoo himself! Remaining tickets will be released shortly, so be sure to keep up with our socials for the best chance of getting yours! They’re also completely free of charge.
