Saturday marked my last day volunteering at Refugee Week Scotland 2013, and it has been a wonderful week indeed. In the evening was the Heritage Finale at the Tron Theatre.
Compering the night were the Kasengele Brothers, who had a great stage presence and immediately made the audience feel welcome. The brothers explained how welcome they had been made to feel upon settling in Glasgow as refugees, and their sense of humour made their recollections of stories all the more entertaining.
Breakthrough
Maryhill Integration Network and Barrowland Ballet were the first acts to perform with Breakthrough, a wonderfully choreographed dance with three small children as participants. This was a really original idea and the group was able to communicate a few different experiences which asylum seekers might have upon first reaching a new country. It was refreshing to see how these stories could be related in yet another art form and appeal to an even wider audience.
Next was the Gorbals Youth Brass Band, who played several tunes and brought about a lovely lightness to the evening as the children involved were able to showcase their talents and the ability which children possess in particular, to cross boundaries and break barriers between race and religion.
Heritage on show
One of the highlights was the Showcase of Cultural Dress by Mother Theresa’s Women’s Group. The group have put on this showcase on many other occasions and it quickly became evident why it has been met with such success. The women each modelled traditional clothes from their home country, as well as original costumes made by the group.
This particular segment perfectly captured the theme of Refugee Week Scotland – ‘heritage’. By wearing and showcasing their homelands’ native clothing, these women were able to celebrate their individual origins as well as being united by sharing their heritage with one another.
Harmonies
Voicebeat choir drew the evening to a close, singing songs from all over the world, including Italy and South Africa. Voicebeat are a multicultural community choir based in Glasgow’s West End, and their ability to sing unaccompanied and burst into harmonies was a pleasant way to round up the night.
Looking around the theatre audience, it was lovely to recognize faces which had become familiar to me as the week progressed, as well as to see those who were new to Refugee Week Scotland events. It has been incredible to work alongside those who have made it their passion and duty to develop opportunities for refugees in Scotland, and I really hope I might return next year!
