Camden Spotlight

The Homecoming Celebration

A family event showcasing Camden’s Caribbean heritage and communities

Marla Brown on stage from behing, in front there is a large crowd on a sunny day

Celebrating in style at #Windrush2024

The Homecoming Celebration was a one-day free event to celebrate the borough’s Windrush story and showcase Camden’s Caribbean heritage, culture and communities. There was live music featuring some of Camden’s established and emerging homegrown talent, carnival and history of sound system workshops, sports activities and Caribbean catering, arts and crafts stalls.

Getting ready

We started early, preparing the park, setting up the market stalls and getting ready for what we could already feel was going to be an awesome day ahead.

A wide shot of a park with a few people in high vis and market stalls around the perimeter being set up

A man in a cap putting up a sign saying 'information and lost children' onto a tent in a park

Opportunities for young people

Grassroots Arts Studios came along with some young creatives who were learning about photography and events. Aaron, Khaya and Eva took up this opportunity thanks to Auda and Sahara at Grassroots Arts Studios.

A woman in a white outfit and orange headscarf dances and poses for the camera in amongst a crowd of people on a sunny day in a park

Rice n peas, beads, fashion and children's activities

There were food stalls including Vibe n Go, Master’s Caribbean, Walthamstow Hotdogs and more. There was a steady crowd throughout the day and relaxed vibes in the seated area as people ate the delicious food on offer.

Arts and crafts included The Culture Market selling gifts, clothing and accessories, jewellery stalls, personalised dolls of all skin colours and beautiful jigsaws.

Children and families were invited to join in fun activities and football in our sports area.

Troditional Culture had their Culture Market, with fashion and accessories. Intentionally misspelt, Troditional is a movement of discovery, healing and rediscovery, standing out from the crowd, doing it their way.

A woman at her stall with clothes, mugs and jewellery and a sign saying 'Culture Market'

A woman behind a market stall selling jigsaws

Two people smiling at the camera in a stall with a sign saying 'gig buddies central'

Carnival vibes

Genesis Carnival Arts, one the UK's leading Carnival Bands brought their new-generation youth steel pan music, carnival costume design activities and educational workshops. While they were with us, they had a camera crew filming their upcoming feature documentary!

A woman at a stall next to a sign saying 'Genesis, the art of mas'

The main event

On the main stage, DJ Matt White looked after the schedule alongside BBC 1Xtra host Swarzy introducing the acts.

We welcomed new talent A7 and DJ Boosie, true stars of the future, gaining experience of playing to a strong audience.

The Skaticians, an eight-piece band, led by Trojan musician, Trevor Starr, brought us instrumental vibes, ska and reggae.

SWEATERGY's dance workout was full of energy. The Camden crowd really got involved and got dancing.

The crowd went mad for Omar, bringing us a set of old and new tunes.

One of the Original Funki Dreds of the world-famous Grammy Award-winning musical entity Soul II Soul, renowned Club DJ and Radio presenter Aitch B gave us the groves with his soulful set.

Marla Brown, daughter of Reggae legend Dennis Brown, got everyone on their feet in a family set alongside her sister.

All in all a fabulous day with and for the community, celebrating the 76^th anniversary of Windrush.

Photography by Crispian Blaize and the young photographers of Grassroots Arts Studio.

Thank you!

Huge thanks to all the organisations and individuals who are helping to put on our season of events and digital content for Windrush 2024 and to the local community for all your support and input.