It is inspired by the stories of Southampton’s refugee and migrant communities, and was commissioned by Turner Sims Southampton and its project partner Southampton City Council, supported by Arts Council England and the University of Southampton as part of the Mayflower 400 programme.
Southampton will be the first city to approach a Mayflower anniversary through the lens of migration. The Mayflower is one of many migrant ships that have left from or arrived in Southampton during the past seven centuries; as a result 148 languages are currently spoken in the city. We see the anniversary as an opportunity to reveal this rich and diverse history, and to encourage communities to tell their stories, many of which will have previously been hidden. Find out more about the Mayflower 400 Programme in Southampton.
This performance features an extraordinary ensemble of diverse musicians, many of whom with roots in Southampton (including University of Southampton alumni). In an interview with Ram Kalyan Kelly (listen from 22 minutes) on Unity 101 Community Radio, several of the musicians discussed their careers so far. Lewis Wood plays the Irish folk violin and explained how he enjoys playing traditional folk music from all over the world, while soul singer Shannon Baker cites her influences; ‘really strong, powerful singers’ such as Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and Aretha Franklin. Pooja Angra also discusses how music enables people to connect across different cultures. Project manager Sal Chitulu describes this performance as a real team effort: ‘the energy, the attitude and the vibe were really, really positive, but in terms of putting things together, that is down to the creative genius and direction of the composer, Tunde Jegede’.