Over 130 people from across the world gathered at the Kala Sangam Arts Centre to celebrate the fact over 150 local groups, organisations, businesses and places of worship have signed up in support of Bradford City of Sanctuary since our launch four years ago.

Local refugee women from Horton Housing’s HOSTS project provided delicious hot food. Moses Ekabusi and his band Egwundu gave a powerful drumming performance, following a drumming workshop that got even the most rhythmically-challenged involved. The Mussanzi Family choir launched the afternoon with inspirational songs, whilst Rehema Mussanzi’s (aka El Rehema: https://elrehema.bandcamp.com/)
powerful rap performance gave much food for thought, dealing with amongst other topics the trauma of his D.R Congo homeland. After a great’daf’ (Kurdish drum)performance by Arad Tamisi and Ali Pabai’s powerful ‘Refugee in Refuse’ poem, rising local folk star Bella Gaffney finished off the event with several inspiring songs.