Radiate Windrush Festival

Back by popular demand, This years Windrush Festival took place at Crystal Palace Park and was nothing short of great vibes! Crowds gathered together to mark the 71st anniversary since the Windrush generation arrived to the UK shores. In recognition of this historical moment, Wanda Nation organised the ultimate experience for guests to get involved with the festivities. Following on from the success of last year, its no surprise that this year was predicted to be a hit!

Taking place over the 22nd – 23rd June, the festival consisted of true cultural appreciation as guests were encouraged to represent their background. Decked with flags, whistles, family and good vibes galore, Crystal Palace Park had truly been transformed…Caribbean style.

PROGRAMME

• Main Stage
• History Zone
• Kids Play Zone
• Art Gallery
• Food Village
• Well Being Hub
• Trader’s Market
• Pop-Up Bookshop
• Pan Yard
• Sound System Yard
• + More

With so many activities to get involved in, its safe to say that everyone had a great time. The day was blessed with true Caribbean vibes,  featuring cultural beats, authentic designs and not to mention…mouth watering dishes! Whether you came to mingle or shake a leg, an amazing experience was guaranteed.

Who are the ‘Windrush Generation’?

‘Those arriving in the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries have been labelled the Windrush generation’. Basically, for those of us who are of Caribbean decent, its likely that our grandparents (great/great grandparents etc) made a huge sacrifice for  what we call life today. The term Windrush is in ‘reference to the ship MV Empire Windrush, which arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on 22 June 1948, bringing workers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands, as a response to post-war labour shortages in the UK. The ship carried 492 passengers – many of them children.’ (Source: BBC)

It’s not known exactly how many people belong to the Windrush generation. The majority of children who were transported at the time, travelled on their parents passport, failing to apply for travel documents.  The number is likely to be in the thousands!  (Source: BBC)

Dear Younger Generation…

…Theres a little history lesson for you and  background context as to why we gather together to celebrate an amazing mark in history. Dear younger generation, when’s the last time you gave your elders a hug or appreciation for the sacrifices they made for you? Speaking to myself as a direct great grandchild Windrush decedent, its safe to say that an act of appreciation is minor compared to the huge sacrifices of my elders. I will be mindful to always remember the strength and resilience undergone by the generations before me, continuing to make a conscious effort to learn and embrace my culture. Jamaica has been added to my bucket list as its one of the great travel destinations i’d love to see! Its so important for us as a younger generation not to be consumed with a westernised society. Carve the time to research your roots and embrace your culture…we’ve got a lot to be proud of after all!

Happy WindRush…lets continue to make history!

Be sure to follow The Radiate Festival to keep up to date:

https://www.radiatefestival.com/festivals/windrush

https://instagram.com/radiatefestival?igshid=e19od65sk0p0

Travel diaries: Trip to Cyprus

Hello everyone and Happy new year,

I know we are rapidly approaching the end of January (where is this month going please?!) but as it’s my first post of the year i had to hit you guys up with a New year greeting! I hope everyone had an amazing festive period and has started the year feeling refreshed and full of optimism. I know i am, have you seen my latest YouTube video ‘20 Goals for 2018‘? (shameless plug). Well if you haven’t already, be sure to check out what goals i have set in place for myself this year- i think they are quite relate-able.

Anyways, in true ‘New Year, New me’ spirit (i joke) I’ve decided to start 2018 with a bang! Touching on one of my fave goals set, me and Stef took the leap and booked ourselves a trip to Cyprus! Now, you may notice an increase in travel blogs/vlogs over on my platforms (no apologies) This is due to the simple fact that i’m at the stage in my life where i simply want to travel! I want to have new experiences and embrace amazing cultures…i know i share this dream with many of you out there, so i’m taking the bull by its horns (i think that’s the phrase, tbh i’m really not sure! lol) and going for it! Starting with small trips around Europe and constant saving, i’m ready to go on these crazy adventures. And that’s a little update on me- without further ado, lets get onto Cyprus!

 

I absolutely loved Cyprus! From the sunset walks across the harbor to the late night dining at the bay, Paphos was an unforgettable experience. Although we went during the countries quiet period, we were never left short of activities! One of the highlights of the trip would have to be our trip to Paphos Zoo! As common as this might sound, it was just nice to have a chilled day which revolved around zoning out!

Wouldn’t want to get into one with this guy!

I would have loved more time to truly embrace the countries remarkable culture, but lazy days and beach side chilling was the perfect way to embrace the Cypriot way of living- siesta style!

I would love to visit Cyprus again, possibly during the summer period when the town is alive and booming. But i’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to tick another country off of my list! With more sites, and beautiful cities out there, the world is my oyster (…and yours!) Here’s to more adventures and a whole lot of exploring!!

I can’t wait for the next adventure!

Did you know I’m on YouTube?!! Be sure to check out my Cyprus Travel Vlog over on my YouTube channel. Be sure to hit subscribe for frequent vids from me x