FROME’S large number of diverse nationalities and cultures were celebrated at this year’s popular Frome Multicultural Festival which took place earlier this month.
The event saw hundreds of people pack the Cheese and Grain as 25 different nationalities shared different aspects of their culture with one another – including special delicacies, music and workshops from around the world.
Organisers Azeema Caffoor and Lenka Grimes, from the charity Young People Frome, have thanked everyone that helped make the event a reality.
“We had 25 nationalities come to the event from around the world and it was a wonderful joyous atmosphere at the event, and there was some fantastic feedback,” they said. “We now have 70 different cultures on our list of residents that live in Frome.
“Particular favourites included Lydia from Zimbabwe who led an Afrodance workshop, Arturo who took us on a journey to Cuba with his music, an impromptu performance from newcomer Francesco from Italy playing on his guitar and singing and Avtar who led the Indian dance workshop teaching everyone the moves which saw a whole group of Turkish teenagers joining in on the stage.
“The festival started in 2017 and has grown so much over the years – every single year we increase in the number of countries on display and this year we had representation from cultures we did not know exists locally such as Kurdistan and Afghanistan and we are so pleased that they took part in this year’s festival.
“People really seemed to enjoy it this year and we saw lots of teenagers and young people this time round which was great. We encourage everyone to come to the festival next year – especially if you’re from an unrepresented culture as we’d love to hear from you.
“We have to say a massive thank you to all that took part – the Cheese and Grain staff; our volunteers; Avanti Park School and Selwood Academy for their wonderful displays of work around our theme this year which was on positive representations of diversity; and, of course, our funders, Frome Town Council and Somerset Diverse Communities.
“Other partners at the event included Frome Welcomes Refugees, Refume, Twinning Association and Frome Anti-Racist Communities group.”
Some of the cultures that were represented at the festival included: Eritrean, Kurdish, Kenyan, Scottish, Turkish, Polish, Pakistani, Indian, Romanian, Canadian, Tibetan and Italian. Some of the activities that took place included Japanese calligraphy, a Jamaican inspired art workshop, Thai Kratongs for floating on water, Ukrainian traditional dolls, henna hand painting, Sri Lankan sari dressing, Tibetan handicrafts and sound healing, Spanish language games and Spanish inspired decorative, bunting making, Peruvian traditional children’s crafts and some information on Jewish history.
