The haunting sound of Senzeni Na?, an anti-apartheid folk song from South Africa, emanates from the small room of Cathays Sports and Social Club, Cardiff, on 20 October. Around 50 guests sang along with the Community Choir on stage, making the ambience warmer.
This small concert was held for asylum seekers drop-in centers in Cardiff, Trinity Center and Oasis. Local bands and musicians such as Bread and Roses, Cosmo and the Palestinian Oud Resists played songs for social justice and folk songs from the refugee’s countries.
Frankie Armstrong, a local folk singer and a longtime activist, felt that it is important for her to organize this event after visits to some drop-in centers. “I just thought we must do something to help locally. Any of the new arrivals well be seeking help. We should use our abilities as musicians to promote more social justice, peace and tolerance,” she said
She gather her musician friends and ask the help of the community movement Cardiff People’s Assembly to promote the event through social media. “We successfully manage to hold a warm and intimate concert, which is the way I intended it to be,” she said. They raised 600 pounds.
Her next concert for refugees will be held at Stow Park Church, Newport, on 20 November.