Drummers and singers from the Splott Oasis centre take to the stage.
AN AUDIENCE of more than 100 people gathered in Adamsdown for a celebration of music in support of refugees that have become part of Cardiff’s cultural community.
Music without Borders’ Autumn concert brought a sea of sound and colour to the Trinity Community Centre on Piercefield Place.
The line-up included people playing a homemade Eritrean harp, Iranian Flamenco-inspired guitar, and a hammered dulcimer.
The audience gears up for Iranian Flamenco-inspired guitar
Eric Ngalle Charles, an author and poet who lives in Cathays, made his debut musical appearance singing in Russian, Zulu, French, and English.
The event’s organiser, Sandor Dus (known by his nickname Cosmo) played guitar alongside oud player Salih Hassan as the duo GuitOud.
Together they treated the audience to their version of Bob Dylan’s “Theme from Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”.
A contingent from the Splott Oasis centre also joined, bringing drumming, choral song, and audience participation.
As well as singing and musical performance there was storytelling from Cath Little and Amanda Rackstraw.
Cath Little, a storyteller, shares a folk tale.
Cosmo said: “If you look at the social consequences of recent events like Brexit you can see that different communities are being pushed apart, so music and events like this are really important to help bring us together.”
Lucy Parkinson, the centre administrator at the Trinity Community Centre, said: “Listening to music can be a such a universal experience and we like that anyone can come have a go and join in at events like this.”
She added: “We also encourage people to get involved in supporting refugees coming to the UK. It can be anything from helping to fight their corner by dispelling myths that people spread about the effects of refugees, to helping to teach English at a drop-in class in your local area.”
Music without Borders has been hosting events across Cardiff for the last two years to encourage and celebrate the diversity of culture in the city. In July this year they held a concert in the Wales Millennium Centre.
Follow Music without Borders on Facebook for news of their future events.
Drummers and singers from the Splott Oasis centre take to the stage.
