Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Four by Four Bhangra Group

  • Prominent figure in the Sikh community loses battle with cancer

    Prominent figure in the Sikh community loses battle with cancer

    Prominent figure in the Sikh community loses battle with cancer

    Tributes have poured in from around the world for Makhan Singh Johal, one of the most well-respected and prominent figures in the Sikh community in Gravesend. He sadly passed away at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer.

    Makhan arrived in Gravesend in 1975 and along with running a number of local successful businesses, he was best known for his contribution to the local arts and sports scene gaining worldwide recognition. During the course of his prolific singing career, spanning over 35 years, he performed with Jugnu Bhangra Group, Rooh Punjab Dee and Four by Four Bhangra at events around the world, entertaining thousands with his powerful voice and onstage personality.

    Makhan was also well known for the positive contribution he made to the Guru Nanak Kabbadi Club where he played the Punjabi sport for many years both in the UK and abroad. In latter years he was an active member of management for the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend where he served the community selflessly for many years. Makhan also focused his energy on supporting the underprivileged in Punjab, North India where he was born. This included regular free eye camps and drop in sessions around cancer awareness as well as creating a free gym and boxing club which supported females across all ages.

    Gurvinder Sandher CEO of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, “I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Makhan Singh Johal, someone who I had the honour of knowing for many years and who was an avid supporter of our work. He was a much loved figure who was very well known within the Sikh community not just in the UK but around the world. This is underlined by the fact that since his passing tributes have poured in globally from artists within the Punjabi music industry to members of the local community whose hearts he touched. He will be dearly missed by the community but we will find solace in the fact that his legacy lives on in his family and within the cultural and sports scene in Gravesham to which he contributed so greatly to.”

  • Maidstone Community Mela 2019

    Maidstone Community Mela 2019

    The Maidstone Community Mela in Whatman Park again proved to be popular with over 3000 attending the annual celebration of music, food and dance from around the world. The Mela which is organised by a small group of community partners and volunteers led by Kent Equality Cohesion Council, the Maidstone Cultural Group and Cohesion Plus has proven to be popular in the borough since 2003 despite the many challenges it has faced over recent years.

    The celebrations were formally launched by the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Marian Ring, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Bill Cockcroft and Kent Equality Cohesion Council CEO Gurvinder Sandher. Those in attendance enjoyed a range of culturally diverse performances including Kent based Phase 5 Steel Band, Folk Band Ukelear Fallout, Maidstone Nepalese Community Group, Maidstone Malayalee Group and Kitka Bulgarian Folk Dance Troupe.

    A Particular highlight was the Cohesion Plus produced Folkin Fusion Collective a high energy show bringing together music and dance from North India and Southern Africa which featured Four by Four Bhangra and Uzambezi Arts. The Mela was headlined by the Kings of Motown who had everyone up and dancing to the classic Motown hits.

    Whilst off stage the arts activity continued with interactive performances by the Chinese Lions, interactive workshops in the World in the Tent which focused on Nepalese and Roma culture and heritage, and for the younger members of the audience there were free arts workshops delivered by LV21.

    The food stalls also proved to be very popular with Indian, Chinese, Nepalese cuisines being served alongside burgers, doughnuts and hot dogs with many selling out whilst the Prosecco bar also did brisk trade.

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council CEO Gurvinder Sandher commented “I am very proud of what we achieved in Maidstone this year. People do not always appreciate how small the team is that puts the Mela on, but all the hard work is worthwhile when you get so many people turning up and supporting us. The Maidstone Community Mela I believe is very important for Maidstone, its ethos is to use food, music and dance to bring communities together and celebrate all that binds us together. The Mela was set up in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and its message is just as important today as it was in 2003 when we first started. I have been involved with the Mela from the start and I am very keen to develop it further next year and we are keen to take it back to Mote Park if we can get a date and also raise the necessary funding.”

  • Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light

    Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light

    Bright lights and colourful vegetable inspired lanterns lit up a chilly autumn night in the rural village of Wrotham on Friday 14th of October. The Wrotham Festival of Light which is now in its fourth year was opened by Phase 5 Steel Band outside St. Georges Church; they were followed by African ensemble Uzambezi, Four by Four Bhangra Dancers and Blogo Fogo Samba.

    Following the performances the lantern parade which celebrated the diversity of Kent and the Harvest Festival made its way through the village. The parade featured parents and pupils from 4 local schools; St. George’s Primary, Trottiscliffe Primary, Platt Primary and West Malling Primary.

    The festival reached its climax on the grounds of Wrotham Cricket Club where a spectacular firework and light show took place.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “I am very grateful to everyone who attended and supported this community celebration. Events like this are important in rural communities as a means of promoting cohesion and providing new experiences for those in attendance. The feedback we have received has been positive and I hope we can replicate this event in other parts of Kent in 2017.”

    David Jones the Head teacher of Saint George’s School commented “The pupils really enjoyed the whole experience, from preparing the lanterns in special workshops in school, to seeing culturally diverse artists perform in the heart of the village to taking part in the lantern parade. It is important that young people get a chance to experience new things and we hope to work with our partners to put on a similar event next year, hopefully with even more local schools involved.”

    The Festival was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Saint Georges Primary School and the schools in the Pilgrims Way Partnership and was part funded by Arts Council England.

  • Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light 2016

    Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light 2016

    Colourful lights, a lantern parade, music and fireworks will come to the rural village of Wrotham which plays host to the 4th Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light on Friday October 14.

    Organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Saint Georges Primary School and the schools in the Pilgrims Way Partnership, the Festival takes place in 3 distinct parts.

    During the first phase there will be a fusion performance by Phase 5 Steel Band outside St. Georges Church as the children prepare for the lantern parade.

    The second phase begins with the lantern parade between 6.15pm and 7pm involving some 500 people as well as entertainment by the Bloco Fogo Samba Group, Four by Four Bhangra and Uzambezi African Arts.

    The festival will climax with a fireworks and lights finale by Phoenix.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “Much of our work takes place in the urban area of Kent, so it is great that we are able to work in a rural area to promote cohesion and bring communities together. We are grateful for all the local schools taking part and the on-going support provided by the local community.”

    poster wfol 2016
  • Gravesham celebrates HM Queen 90th Birthday

    Gravesham celebrates HM Queen 90th Birthday

    Birthday cake and bright skies was the order of the day as Gravesham celebrated the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. Cohesion Plus, working with Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Equality Cohesion Council organised a special street party on the Community Square on Friday June 10 which was attended by over 400 people. They were entertained by Elton John and One Direction tribute acts while enjoying specially prepared packed lunches sitting in the sun.

    This was followed on Saturday June 11 by the fourth Gravesham Fusion Festival at the Fort Gardens. The theme was Britain and the Commonwealth and was headlined by leading Queen Tribute act Real Magic. They were supported by local Kent based acts including Four by Four Bhangra, Phase 5 Steel Band, Uzambezi, Gemma Moore, Confident Queen Genny Jones, Chuckle Singh’s and Shadow of Doubt.

    In addition to the stage programme Same Sky Arts delivered creative arts workshops for young people who made union flags and crowns.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “I was really pleased that the weather held out and we were able to be involved in 2 great community celebrations to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday. She has been a beacon for this nation since her coronation in 1953 and we can all learn from her commitment to public service. I have had some real positive feedback and hope that we created some great memories for the young people who were able to take part in the celebrations.” 

  • Gravesham Fusion Festival 4th Jul 2015

    Gravesham Fusion Festival 4th Jul 2015

    The Fusion Festival which was organised by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Gravesham Borough Council and KCC Arts Development Unit provided to be popular and saw a number of new and emerging acts performing. These included local band What, a drama by young children from Gravesham especially prepared for the festival by 2B Scene Theatre Company, leading African vocal ensemble Uzambezi, emerging female bhangra star Sarika Gill, popular Bulgarian Folk Group Kitka and Slovakian band Gejza.

    The Fusion Festival took place alongside the 169th Town Annual Town Regatta, Gravesham Summer Queen and the Northfleet Carnival.

    The festival also say the premier of “Samba Bhangra Beats” an exciting new performance co-produced by Cohesion Plus working with the Bollywood Brass Band, Four by Four Bhangra Group and Bloco Fogo Samba. This proved to be a particular highlight and underlined the theme of the Fusion Festival to use the arts bring communities together and promote cohesion and understanding.

    Headline acts bhangra star Jassi Sidhu and Sam Smith tribute Joe Scripps also proved very popular and had the audiences up and dancing with their repertoire of hits.

    In addition to the stage programme there was some exciting creative arts taking place off stage which was delivered by LV21 Arts which proved to be very popular while Nutkhut performed a series of walkabouts dressed as Bollywood stars on stilts.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “I was very pleased with the support that we received form the local community for the Fusion Festival. It was a great family day out and the performances by all the artists were really enjoyed by the audience. We are committed to promoting our shared values and events like this bring the community together as one to celebrate all that unites us. I am also very grateful for all the support provided by our partners both in the build and on the day itself and look forward to working with them on creating an even bigger and better festival next year.”