Shine On – Bristol Diaspora! Celebration in Southmead

The sun shone on our second Southmead Diaspora! celebration. Our event brought together all the different cultures and voices in our community. We welcomed a wonderful and diverse crowd of families, neighbours, and first-time visitors through the gates at The Ranch for music, food, activities, and fantastic company.

Jamaican folk group Tan Teddy brought the heart and heritage of Jamaica to life with a performance that had everyone swaying, smiling, and singing along. The band created a warm and infectiously happy atmosphere in the spirit of this wonderful gathering.

DJ Indian Man kept the energy going throughout the afternoon and gave young people a chance to jump on the decks to discover the art of mixing for themselves – exactly the kind of hands-on experience young people love to get at The Ranch.

Alongside the music, the Flag Up Your Identity workshop was a creative way for everyone to explore and celebrate who they are and where they come from. This beautifully simple idea sparked heartfelt and fascinating conversations – a reminder of just how many stories exist within our community and how powerful it can be to share them.

Children and adults alike were captivated by Afrolena – the magnificent giant puppet with enormous energy! She danced and sang, and even led a brilliant trampoline game!

Being part of Bristol’s City-wide Diaspora! celebration this year was another proud moment for Southmead as our residents celebrated difference and shared cultures side-by-side in the sunshine.

A huge thank you to our partners Diverse Artist Network whose vision and collaboration made the day possible. We are so grateful for their dedicated and passionate work to organise an amazing network of community events across Bristol.

Do keep tabs on our newsfeed for next year’s event in Southmead, we cannot wait to do it all again!