The Community Partnership Officer at Hastings Borough Council, writes:
"Having rained all day I was a little nervous that the weather could spoil the second 'Bring a Dish' party, given the glorious success of the last one in the blazing sunshine. However I had underestimated the power of the vibes, dynamism and commitment of the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Network, who work tirelessly to host the monthly Bring a Dish party at the Centre of Creativity, 20 West Hill Road, St Leonards. As I turned the corner into West Hill Road I was greeted by the thunderous rhythms of the master drummer Henri Goabi. Together with the masked dancer Dieudonne Siriku from the Ivory Coast and a whole host of revellers including Mayor Pam Brown and Councillor Jay Kramer, the party had seemingly managed to shunt the bad weather leaving a beautiful rainbow overhead.
"Complementing the company of 200 new and familiar faces from over 65 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and the excellent mix of music, was an array of gastronomic delights. With earlobes and taste buds tantalised it soon became time to work that food off. Led by Omar-Amin Abbass-Saal and Clinton Francis two young and talented up and coming street dancers, combined with the DJ skills of local talent JJ and live drumming performances, it didn't take long before the whole place was rocking. The children had also migrated from the bouncy castle and the mask making workshops to the dance-floor where they were besotted by the mastery of local puppeteer Koukey Joachim. The fluid movements of the incredibly life-like puppet gave everyone strutting their funky stuff a run for their money.
"The evening finished late around the fire honouring a local hero and activist from the African community. Beauty Njerere had died only one week ago. The songs, dances and tears shared and shed stood testimony to the impact Beauty had made on the local community. Despite my fears of the weather ruining things, the evening had been a complete success. As local Jersey-Nepalese businessman Marcus Doublard succinctly put it: "I have seen more multi-culture here than anywhere else in Hastings; a microcosm of the United Nations coming together across boundaries of ethnicity, language, age and custom to meet one another face to face in joyful celebration."
For more details of future events and to become a member contact:
Celebrating Cultural Diversity Network
c/o Centre of Creativity, 20 West Hill Road
St Leonards on Sea
TN38 0NB
Telephone/Fax: 01424 424 080
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This page last updated: 29/09/2005