Celebrate L8 got underway this week to shine a light on Toxteth’s rich cultural heritage.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event that welcomed over 300 people at the Pakistan Association Liverpool, this year’s edition is being held virtually due to coronavirus restrictions.
Moving the event online has already proven popular with over 8000 people reached on Monday and more than 650 people engaged via the Celebrate L8 Facebook page.
The multi-cultural event sees a range of organisations come together including the Liverpool Arabic Centre, L8 A Better Place, Al-Ghazali Centre, Somali Women’s Group, Granby Toxteth Development Trust, Steve Biko Housing Association, PAL Centre, Merseyside Sudanese Community Association, Merseyside Caribbean Centre, Toxteth Community Radio.
Members from the various organisations will be posting videos and pictures of traditional food, dancing, singing and much more on the Facebook page.
Neda Ahmed Alyafeai from the Liverpool Arabic Centre said: “This year has been very challenging due to the pandemic’s physical restrictions. But moving the event online allowed us to once again connect with the wider community on these events which are important for reducing isolation and boosting community spirit.”
Organisers want to raise awareness of L8’s eclectic mix of cultures and traditions. They believe there are two key motivations for this, ‘celebration and mutual understanding between different groups of people, and the preservation of our communities’.
L8 celebrate organisers Joseph Ramsden said: “Bringing together the various organisations was one of the easiest parts of starting this celebration when we started last year.
“Personally I would like to thank Amina Mahamood from the Somali Women’s Group for coming up with the idea.”
L8 Celebrate runs from Monday (Dec 2) through to Sunday (Dec 6) with the following cultures in-focus each day:
- Monday and Tuesday – Arab
- Wednesday – Somali
- Thursday and Friday – Roma
- Saturday – African Caribbean
- Sunday – Sudanese
- Find out more about Celebrate L8 at their Facebook Page and listen to interviews on Toxteth Community Radio