Non-profit-making. Urban. Aware. Showcasing the UK’s refugee musical culture, both traditional and contemporary, alongside music from across the world.

Throughout the year Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham showcases,

develops and promotes artists-in-exile and raises awareness of the contributions

that refugees make to Birmingham and the UK.

In June, we get together a whole feast of music and activities and we hold a month-long celebration of music, culture, collaboration and strength

through adversity.

Many of our events are free, and are supported partly by those events that are ticketed and partly by our funders and partners.

A huge thanks to all who have supported and contributed to the festival this year, including:

The National Lottery through Arts Council England, PRS for Music Foundation, Moseley Folk, Birmingham Jazz, NOWHire, The Drum, MAC Birmingham, Writers Without Borders, Henry’s Cantonese Restaurant and all of our artists and audience.

Introduction Celebrating Sanctuary is Birmingham’s World Music Festival.

MANY REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS HOPE TO RETURN HOME AT SOME POINT. 2

Festival Events

WWW.CELEBRATING-SANCTUARY.ORG.UK 3

3 June 2pm – 7pm Celebrating Sanctuary at the Old Print Works, Café Ort and The Old Print Works FREE p.4 ft. Village Well In association with Moseley Folk

3 June Doors 8:30pm Transglobal Underground The Old Print Works £10 (£8) adv. p.5

8 June Doors 8:30pm Yaaba Funk Hare and Hounds £7 (£5) adv. p.6

9 June 10:30am – 1pm Musical Picnic, ft. Daholl Kurdish Ensemble A THSH event Symphony Hall Café Bar FREE p.7

9 June 11am – 5pm Bosnian Family Fun Day. A Bosnian Supplementary St. George’s Community Hub FREE p.7 Schools Network event in association with Bosnia & Herzegovina UK Network

11 June Doors 7pm Chinese Celtic Night, ft. Jasmine Moon Ensemble Henry’s Cantonese Restaurant £8 (£6) p.8 and Peacock & Angell Supported by Henry’s Cantonese Restaurant

15 June 5:30pm – 7pm Crossroad Collision at Rush Hour Blues Symphony Hall Café Bar FREE p.9 A Birmingham Jazz event

15 June Doors 7pm Sexy Weirdos Summer Spectacular The Ballroom, Dale End £5 adv. p.9 A Sexy Weirdos event

16 June 11am – 7pm Refugee Week Launch event MAC Birmingham FREE p.12 Live music, activities, theatre, film & discussion In association with MAC Birmingham

17 June 12:30pm – 2pm Let’s Do Lunch All Saints Church Centre £3 Donation p.13 Organised by BIRCH Action Group in association Please with All Saints Church.

21 June Doors 8:30pm Diabel Cissokho La Reference Bar and Restaurant £7 (£5) adv. p.14

22 June Doors 9pm Afro Vibe La Reference Bar and Restaurant £10 (£8) adv. p.14

22 June 7:30pm Ekatva dance performance A Drum event The Drum £8 (£6) p.15

23 June 12 – 6pm The Drum Open Day The Drum FREE p.15 A Drum event, in conjunction with Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham & Aston Heritage Day

30 June 8pm Nova Guarda, Brazilian Carnival Show A Drum event The Drum £6 p.15

A day of live music, activities and workshops at Café Ort and the Old Print Works on Moseley Road. A great opportunity to meet people from the local area, swap stories, enjoy the great food and fine hospitality of Ort and find out more about the hive of activity that is The Old Print Works.

Village Well launched to great acclaim on the festival circuit in 2011, ending the season with a blazing performance in the Bohemian Jukebox at Moseley Folk Festival in September. This unique trio reflects the culturally dynamic nature of their Birmingham home, skilfully combining rich Middle Eastern melodies with the classical and folk traditions of India and the soulful rhythms of the Caribbean. Their creations – whether Gypsy or jazz, folk or classical, pop or traditional – retain a vitality that is contemporary and constantly evolving. Pritam Singh (tabla, voice), Zirak Hamad (violin, percussion, voice) and Norman Stewart (steel pan, percussion). In Café Ort. Time tbc.

In association with Moseley Folk.

“PROVED WHY THE BEST MUSIC IS STILL VERY MUCH

OF THE LIVING. THE STANDING OVATION AND DEMAND FOR AN ENCORE SAID IT ALL.”

BIRMINGHAM POST MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL 2011

Celebrating Sanctuary At the

Old Print WorksFeaturing Village Well / Café Ort and The Old Print Works Sunday 3 June / 2pm – 7pm / FREE ADMISSION

SEEKING ASYLUM IS A HUMAN RIGHT.4

Best known for the 90s hit Temple Head, Transglobal Underground has often been a fluid network of inspired artists rather than a rigid unit. As a result the band is ever-creative, never static. Contributors over the years reflect a line-up bursting with creativity and talent: Man Tu, Tax D, Alex Kasiek, percussionists Goldfinger and Terry Neale the Human Quica, rapper Sheriff, Aki (Fun-Da-Mental), vocalist Natacha Atlas, Neil Sparkes and Dubulah (founders of Temple of Sound), clubland legends DJ Nelson Dilation and VJ Sheikh Ad Helik, Johnny Kalsi, percussionist and leader of the Dhol Foundation, percussionist Gurjit Sihra and Zulu vocalist Doreen Thobekile. In the late 90s the group toured Europe supporting Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

With influences from DJ culture, Indian classical, reggae, bhangra, hip-hop, community politics, European, Middle

Eastern, Mediterranean and African music, underground art and eighties pop, Transglobal Underground is a truly eclectic and global experience. Whatever you think it is, you’re likely to be surprised and energised by the live performance. After 21 years of existence, the path TGU has taken has never been predictable and no one involved at the beginning could have imagined that, after so many twists and turns, Transglobal Underground would still be on a journey that shows no sign of ending. Ever.

“EVERYTHING LEAPS OUT OF

THE SPEAKERS WITH A FRESHNESS, VITALITY,

VIGOUR AND FABULOUSLY WIDE MUSICAL SENSIBILITY

THAT IS ITS OWN IRRESISTIBLE RECOMMENDATION. IN THEIR HEYDAY, TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND DID MORE THAN MOST TO GIVE DANCE MUSIC A GOOD NAME AND TO PROSELYTIZE FOR WORLD MUSIC. PIONEERS THEN, PIONEERS STILL, TGU REMAIN A CREATIVE FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.”

TELEGRAPH

Transglobal UndergroundThe Old Print Works / Sunday 3 June / Doors 8:30pm / £10 (£8) adv.

ASYLUM SEEKERS AREN’T USUALLY ALLOWED TO WORK. 5

“GO SEE THIS BAND LIVE! I GUARANTEE YOU’LL FIND IT HARD TO KEEP YOUR FEET STILL!”

EMRYS BAIRD. BLUES N SOUL.

A floor-filling extravaganza combining the tightest rhythm section this side of Accra, fat analogue basslines, blazing horns, sparkling African and gritty rock guitars.

Yaaba Funk was born in Brixton in 2006. The core members met on the south London African scene in the late 1990s when, as well as studying African music, many wild nights were spent jamming together at house parties - drumming, dancing and djing til dawn. The name Yaaba Funk comes from an album called Yaba Funk Roots, the only album ever released outside of Africa by Captain Yaba, a musician from northern Ghana and exponent of the 2-string ‘guitar’ called the koliko. The band has gigged extensively around London and the UK, building up a loyal fan base with their exuberant live shows and have also performed in Europe and Africa.

Band members Chief Commander Yaaba, Mr Brett and the Outlaw Clive Wales also DJ at Afro inspired nights around London - spinning Afrobeat, Mbalax, Cuban rumba, Brazilian grooves, broken beat, 70s Nigerian funk, reggae and of course Hi-Life.

Yaaba FunkHare & Hounds / Friday 8 June / Doors 8:30pm / £7(5) adv.

6 ASYLUM SEEKERS DO NOT JUMP THE QUEUE FOR COUNCIL HOUSING AND CANNOT CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE.

Daholl Kurdish ensemble offers this special performance for the Celebrating Sanctuary Festival at Symphony Hall’s popular Musical Picnic, a participatory event in a relaxed family setting. Daholl plays a lively blend of Kurdish and Middle Eastern music which ranges from traditional to contemporary popular dance music. Led by versatile violinist, percussionist and dance teacher

The Bosnian Supplementary Schools Network welcomes all to a day of family fun and entertainment to celebrate the success of bilingual supplementary schooling in the UK. See young people perform Bosnian cultural dances, join in fun family activities and sample delicious traditional foods.

Zirak Hamad, the band takes its name from a traditional Kurdish percussion instrument. Participation is positively encouraged! Resident community big band The Notebenders will follow with a closing set.

In association with Symphony Hall Education and Community Dept.

A Bosnian Supplementary Schools Network event in conjunction with Bosnia & Herzegovina UK Network.

Daholl Kurdish EnsembleSymphony Hall Café Bar / Musical Picnic / Saturday 9 June / 10:30am – 1pm / FREE ADMISSION

Bosnian Family Fun Day St. George’s Community Hub / Saturday 9 June / 11am – 5pm / FREE ADMISSION

…A NEWLY-ARRIVED ASYLUM SEEKER OF THE SAME AGE GETS £36.62 PER WEEK. THAT’S A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF.

IN THE UK A SINGLE PERSON AGED 25 OR OVER ON INCOME SUPPORT IS ENTITLED TO £71 PER WEEK…

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“UNEXPECTEDLY WONDERFUL”

“BEAUTIFUL”

“GREAT ENERGY AND CHARISMA”

REVIEWS FOR PEACOCK AND ANGELL

An evening of Celtic & traditional Chinese music… made in Birmingham!

Get ready to be taken on a magical musical journey across China from the heart of the Yangtze Delta to the foothills of the

mountains of Yunnan, then across to the bright blue shores of County Down and the high peaks and green fields of Derbyshire. Forged in the vibrant Midlands world music scene The Jasmine Moon Trio emerges from a tradition steeped in the music and culture of China. Alongside is a beautifully stripped down and personal performance from Sid Peacock and Ruth Angell, whose music is a reflection on the struggles of daily life, relationships, happiness, the surprise of nature and circumstance and the beauty found in all things.

Supported by Henry’s Cantonese Restaurant.

The Jasmine Moon Ensemble & Peacock & Angell Henry’s Cantonese Restaurant / Monday 11 June / Doors 7pm / £8 (£6)

8 FAMOUS REFUGEES INCLUDE: SIGMUND FREUD, ALEK WEK, KARL MARX, JOSEPH CONRAD, ALBERT EINSTEIN, YASMIN ALIBHAI-BROWN, ANISH KAPOOR, FABRICE MUAMBA, ALAN YENTOB, JACKIE CHAN…

Crossroad Collision at Rush Hour BluesSymphony Hall Café Bar / Friday 15 June / 5:30 – 7pm / FREE ADMISSION A culture-clash of African and Western drums, wild sax, strong basslines and guest musicians from different cultures, Crossroad Collision combines elements of jazz, world rhythms and African beats.

This is an exhilarating musical pile-up skilfully steered by charismatic frontman Steve Yimga. A special Rush Hour Blues event for Refugee Week.

Johnny Kowalski & the Sexy Weirdos is a 7-piece line-up of drums, guitar, vocals, percussion, tuba, trombone, cornet and violin. The band has quickly gained a fine reputation in Birmingham and the West Midlands for their exciting blend of gypsy punk that never fails to set a room full of people into a dancing frenzy. Support from Frutaloka (latino funk), Mad Apple Circus

A Birmingham Jazz event.

(ska punk quintet) and all-female folk trio the Nighties of the Round Table. Followed by Club Kowalski: a hand-picked selection of DJs playing an eclectic mix of mash-ups, Gypsy, Balkan and reggae to keep you dancing till dawn.

A Sexy Weirdos event.

Sexy Weirdos Summer SpectacularThe End, Birmingham Ballroom / Friday 15 June / Doors 7pm / £5 adv.

THAT’S ONLY 0.04% OF THE UK’S POPULATION OF 62.3 MILLION.

AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL 2011, THERE WERE ABOUT 21,935 GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED ASYLUM SEEKERS LIVING IN THE UK.

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UPON ARRIVING IN THE UK PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM ARE:

•FINGERPRINTED (EVEN IF YOU’RE A LITTLE KID)

•PHOTOGRAPHED •SECURITY CHECKED

•ISSUED WITH ID CARDS •AND MAY EVEN BE ELECTRONICALLY TAGGED

THEY MUST: •REPORT AT REGULAR INTERVALS TO POLICE STATIONS OR IMMIGRATION CENTRES

THEY CAN BE: •LOCKED UP AT ANY POINT DURING THEIR ASYLUM APPLICATION (INCLUDING LITTLE

KIDS AND PREGNANT LADIES)

…AND ALL THIS AFTER BEING PERSECUTED, IMPRISONED AND PERHAPS EVEN TORTURED.

SOURCE: MOBILES, MONEY & MAYHEM: THE FACTS & FIBS ABOUT ASYLUM, RAP10

Refugee Week is a unique opportunity to discover and celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK. Events take place across the UK. Find out more at: www.refugeeweek.org.uk

The Refugee Week events calendar is available at http://bit.ly/fQKumS. Use it to find events near you.

Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham has a longstanding commitment to national Refugee Week.

Festival events dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the week are marked with the Refugee Week logo.

Refugee WeekDifferent pasts, shared future 18 – 24 June 2012 / Events and venues across the UK

18 REFUGEES HAVE BECOME NOBEL LAUREATES, 16 REFUGEES HAVE RECEIVED KNIGHTHOODS 11

A survey in 2001 of more than 200 refugees in the UK found that over half had completed a first degree or higher when they arrived in the UK. This statistic increased to two thirds when subsequent study in the UK was taken into account.

WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, IT WAS LIKE BEING DROPPED IN THE OCEAN. I COULDN’T BEAR TO LIVE WITHOUT MY CHILDREN. I GOT VERY DEPRESSED AND TRIED TO KILL MYSELF.” SELIMA, REFUGEE FROM SOMALIA

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Workshops, activities, music, film, theatre and discussion to celebrate the launch of national Refugee Week in Birmingham. We’ll be offering a packed line-up of live world music on the outside terrace to take you from the Chilean Andes through Africa to the Balkans. Featuring Kausary, Damba, Afro Mio, The Redeemed and a range of community performances. Drumming workshop by Steve Yimga. Acoustic sessions in the Hexagon will feature Iranian classical tar player Mostafa

A meal open to all, especially asylum seekers, destitute people and those who would wish to welcome them.

Organised by BIRCH Action Group in association with All Saints Church

ABOUT BIRCH Destitution has become a widespread experience for those going through the

Abbasi Zadeh, Sudanese singer and musician Hassan Salih Nour (oud, tamboura) and amazingly versatile percussionist Joelle Barker. Theatre in the Foyle is from Writers Without Borders and Silent Shout Theatre with displays, arts activities, children’s entertainment and information in the foyer. (An evening performance of the film Welcome (15) will be ticketed.)

In association with MAC Birmingham.

asylum process. Refused asylum seekers are denied the opportunity to work, made homeless, and rely on handouts to survive.

Birmingham Community Hosting Network (BIRCH) is a network of volunteer community hosts who offer short term home stays to people experiencing destitution.

Refugee Week Launch MAC Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park / 16 June / 11am – 7pm / FREE ADMISSION

Let’s Do LunchAll Saints Church Centre, Kings Heath / 17 June / 12:30pm – 2pm £3 donation from those who can afford it

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS HAVE POWERS TO DETAIN ASYLUM SEEKERS, EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED ANY CRIME.

Diabel CissokhoLa Reference Bar & Restaurant / 21 June / Doors 8:30pm / £7 (£5) adv.

“I THOUGHT THAT GENERALLY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WOULDN’T CARE ABOUT ME AND I FELT OUT OF PLACE. I THOUGHTPEOPLE WOULDN’T BE FRIENDLY BUT I WAS WRONG”. DJ – YOUNG UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKER

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Senegalese musician Diabel Cissokho is part of the great line of Cissokho griots. With an exceptional musical pedigree (kora player with Baaba Maal, Kandia Kouyate, Pee Wee Ellis, Nuru Kane, Daby Balde, Omar Pene and Abdou Diop), Diabel is now well established in the UK. His virtuosic talent has been welcomed everywhere from WOMAD and Glastonbury to London’s Barbican, where he performed alongside Femi Kuti, Cheikh Lo and Manu Dibango. Diabel’s success with bluesman Ramon Goose cemented his reputation as a versatile musician, able to effortlessly cross cultures. Their album Mansana Blues was lauded as “a flavoursome mix of slide guitar, mellow kora and undulating Mandinka rhythms” (fRoots) which “delivers moments of steamy pleasure” (Songlines).

Diabel has recently released his own album, Kanabory Siyama, which draws on Diabel’s rich musical heritage, blending beautiful Mandinkan melodies with an upbeat West African groove.

“RESONANT VOICE AND ROCKING KORA STYLE”

SONGLINES

IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING REFUGEES, PAY MORE INTO THE PUBLIC PURSE COMPARED TO THEIR UK-BORN COUNTERPARTS.14

Specially for Celebrating Sanctuary, African drummer and consummate showman Steve Yimga has brought together a local supergroup of talented musicians to perform at the vibrant La Reference African club on Hockley Hill. Playing popular contemporary African tunes including P Square’s Chop My Money, Wizkid’s (Pakuramo), and tunes from Bracket, Fally Ipupa and many more, this promises to be a unique, unforgettable and non-stop dance night. Live music and African club tunes till late.

Afro Vibe La Reference Bar & Restarant / 22 June / Doors 9pm / £10 (£8) adv.

ASYLUM SEEKERS AREN’T USUALLY ALLOWED 15

EKATVA is an experiment to touch the lives and spirits of 16 underprivileged children through dance and art, while inspiring the souls of thousands across the world. 16 children from some of the largest slums of Ahmedabad, Gujarat perform a 90-minute dance-drama production sharing Mahatma Gandhi’s message of ‘Oneness’.

A Drum event.

Nova Guarda brings the hottest sounds from the street blocos of Rio de Janeiro direct to Birmingham, playing a mix of authentic Brazilian samba, funk, marchas and pop! Featuring over 30 percussionists from across the Midlands, and guest starring guitarist Pepe Barcellos and vocalist Fabio Allman from the Brazilian super group

Monobloco, it promises to be a colourful, loud and unforgettable evening of music and song.

A Drum event.

EkatvaThe Drum / 22 June / 7:30pm / £8 (£6)

Nova Guarda, Brazilian Carnival ShowThe Drum / 30 June / 8pm / £6

THE UK ASYLUM SYSTEM IS STRICTLY CONTROLLED AND COMPLEX. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ASYLUM.

ABOUT 1,200 MEDICALLY QUALIFIED REFUGEES ARE RECORDED ON THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION’S DATABASE.

A free event packed with entertainment provided by the region’s most talented emerging artists. The ground floor will come to life with a sample of the arts and music activities that take place at The Drum regularly. Performances, workshops, music, stalls, competitions and much more.

A Drum event, in association with Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham and Aston Heritage Day

The Drum Open DayThe Drum / 23 June / 12 – 6pm / FREE ADMISSION

All Saints Church Centre Kings Heath B14 7RA

Café Ort & The Old Print Works 506 Mosley Road (opposite Edward Rd) Balsall Heath B12 9AH

Hare and Hounds 106 High Street Kings Heath B14 7JZ

Henrys Cantonese Restaurant 27 St Pauls Square B3 1RB www.henrysrestaurant.co.uk

La Reference Bar & Restaurant 160 Hockley Hill B18 5AN

More info at: www.celebrating-sanctuary.org.uk Facebook: http://on.fb.me/IlTjmi Twitter: twitter.com/celsancfest Tel: 07989 847 818 Tickets for CSB-organised events are available at: www.theticketsellers.co.uk Tickets are available online until 6pm for evening events.

MAC Birmingham Cannon Hill Park B12 9QH

St. George’s Community Hub St George’s Post 16 Centre Great Hampton Row Newtown B19 3JG

Symphony Hall Broad Street B1 2EA

The Drum 144 Potters Lane Aston B6 4UU

The End Birmingham Ballroom 51-54 Dale End B4 7LS

Information sources: mobiles, money & mayhem: the facts & fibs about asylum – RAP (Refugee Action), Refugee Week Fact Pack & info centre - www.refugeeweek.org.uk, Guardian, UK Border Agency, Institute for Public Policy Research, Refugee Council

Venues