Safiya, Cyrlene Braithwaite and Patrice George are putting together events which will celebrate black culture

A FUNDRAISER for a festival aimed at bringing the community together has been launched.

Caledonian Road residents want to put on an arts and music event. Cyrlene Braithwaite, chief organiser, said: “I got a free hire of the Islington Assembly Hall. I came across the application by mistake. It said that if I was an Islington resident I could apply to the council and get the free hire.

“I’ve lived in Islington for 19 years and I never knew that. I got the form from the council, filled it out, and they loved it.

“So, we need the money to cover the cost of security, and I’m a member of the Musicians’ Union which has a fair-rate pay, and I’m trying to abide by that, so everyone gets a fair payment for their time.”

Ms Braithwaite has organised a play called Black In The Day to open the festival, a comedy chronicling the life of a Caribbean family who have moved to the UK. Six musical acts and a Bob Marley tribute act will follow on from the play.

Patrice George, who is co-organising the festival, said: “We’re trying to get the community together – it’s about breaking down barriers. As a black woman growing up, you experience so much.

“It’s about getting people to understand our culture the same as we understand theirs. We want the community, especially in Islington, to come together as one team, instead of all this separation.”

She added: “It’s based around music because a lot of people relate to music. When you’re down or upset, there’s always a song that cheers you up.”

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