Press release published Friday 06 October 2006
The need to build understanding between religions and cultures in our society has never before been more discussed. Ujamaa, a Hackney based community arts group, which has been funded by the City of London Corporation to create a float and perform in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show, is one organisation striving to extend this understanding to all sectors of the community through street theatre, music and dance. Their float will hit the streets of the City of London on 11th November as Ujamaa leads the new Lord Mayor from The Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice for an annual ceremony to welcome him into office.
The Lord Mayor’s Show will provide Ujamaa with a national and global stage upon which to illustrate and explore West African beliefs and cultural practices. Ujamaa’s performance, which is entitled “The Empire Days – The Queen and Us”, seeks to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday by calling forth blessings from Olodumare the supreme god of Yoruba religious culture.
“Yoruba” Paa ‘C’ Quaye, Artistic Director at Ujamaa, explains: “Much like Christianity celebrates the mystery of three persons in one god, Olodumare is the supreme god, Oblato is the god of creation and wisdom and Orunmila is the god of divination and other spirits. The three divine beings will be represented as characters in a piece of street theatre alongside characters depicting the Queen and her ladies in waiting.”
Children from schools in Hammersmith and Hackney have been hard at work over the last few months rehearsing a performance which incorporates street theatre, dance and a masquerade. Ujamaa will use similarities between British and West African culture in its performance art to promote understanding and to explore the way the two cultures have influenced one another. Their performance will juxtapose traditional West African costume and performance with British traditions such as Morris dancing and the May pole.
Pa ‘C’ Quaye said: “Our involvement with the Lord Mayor’s Show will help children learn about the traditions, history, and beliefs of West African countries and how they have blended and integrated into modern British culture.”
Dominic Reid, Pageantmaster for the Lord Mayor’s Show, said: “The electrifying mix of people and the diversity of the groups that take part in the show is what makes it so spectacular, as the Show, now in its 793rd year, continues to evolve to embrace all sectors of the community. More than 70 floats, 250 vehicles, dozens of bands of all shapes and sizes, over 6000 participants, city workers, servicemen and women, and community groups like Ujamaa will all come together to produce a vibrant mix of sights sounds and colours which will dazzle spectators.”
To be a part of the celebrations and to see Ujamaa’s performance just get to the City for the morning of Saturday 11th November and nab a place on the well-marked route. The procession will weave its way from Guildhall, in the heart of the City, through the historic streets of the Square Mile, passing Bank Tube, Mansion House and St. Paul’s Cathedral before continuing to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.