MUSICIAN and political activist Ed Emery (pictured) has revealed how fond memories of the late Joe Mulheron have drawn him back to Derry after 30 years.
Together with musicians from the SOAS Ceilidh Band – which he helped to form at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London – Ed will be teaming up with local Irish musicians to stage a ‘Friendship Gig’ in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on August 31.
The SOAS Ceilidh Band plays tunes traditional to the British Isles, Scotland and Ireland. But they have also gained a significant reputation internationally with tours of Calais, Venice, Paris, Istanbul, Lebanon and Iraqi Kurdistan.
With a strong commitment to social justice, the band has a particular interest in performing with refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum.
“There are two reasons why I’m keen to return to Derry,” said Ed.
“The first is that earlier this year we travelled to Northern France and did a ‘Ceilidh in Calais’. There we met some lovely young people from Derry who were working as volunteers for the refugee agencies in the town.
“But I also have very fond memories of coming here 30-odd years ago to visit Joe Mulheron of Sandino’s Bar when we were hatching a plan to make a songbook of the rebel songs of The People of No Property.
“In those days Joe had managed to wangle a bit of Arts Council money and he set up a Singers’ Weekend that started in Derry and then moved over the border for the Sunday session. There were so many great songs and unforgettable singers.”
On August 31, in conjunction with the North West Migrants Forum, the SOAS Ceilidh Band will bring their unique sound to Cultúrlann for an evening that will combine Irish, Syrian and Kurdish music and dancing.
COMMITTED TO OTHER CULTURES
Ed Emery said, “At SOAS we are committed to learning about music and cultures from other parts of the world.
“Over the years we have toured refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan and our band makes regular trips to Calais and Dunkerque where we play for, and with, refugees and migrants there.
“On our travels we have met Kurdish and Syrian refugees and we have shared music and song with them. As a result of those contacts we have also travelled to Kurdistan to play ceilidh music there.
“We make music with and for migrants and refugees, that is what we do. We play our music, they play theirs and we share each other’s dances.”
Five years ago Ed organised a conference in Venice regarding the question of ‘Musical Free Space’ where he and his colleagues proposed that it should be regarded as a fundamental human right for migrants and refugees to have a safe, dedicated musical space where they can make the music of their own people.
“That is part of the mission of our band – to create those kinds of musical spaces, especially at this time when so many musical spaces are being taken away from us all,” he added.
Ahead of the gig in Cultúrlann Ed Emery will give a lunchtime talk at the Museum of Free Derry on Friday, August 30.
“The title of my talk is ‘The Songs and Singers of the Kurdish People: A Fight for Freedom and Self Determination’. I will be talking about the historic struggles of the Kurdish people under the regimes of colonialism established since the First World War. And particularly the songs of resistance among Kurds from all the different parts of Kurdistan.
“I am hoping as well that we might be able to make a little twinning between the Free Derry Museum and another ‘museum of the troubles’ which is the Red House Museum in Suleimanyah in Iraqi Kurdistan which was once the torture centre used by Saddam Hussein in putting down the Kurdish people.”
OPEN INVITATION
Admission to the talk is free and open to everyone. It starts at 1.30pm.
Looking ahead to the evening of music, food and dance on August 31, Ed revealed that it will be a two-in-one concert with an open invitation to Kurdish musicians to join in.
“While we were planning this trip it occurred to me that there must be refugee communities in Northern Ireland and maybe even be Kurdish and Syrian people in those communities.
“I made contact with the North West Migrants Forum and they confirmed that this was the case.
“I immediately resolved that our gig on August 31 would be two things rolled into one – On the one hand a traditional ceilidh and we have also invited Kurdish musicians and singers from the Derry community to make their own music and dance as part of the evening. The caller for the trad dances will be myself, but folks from the Kurdish community will also demonstrate Kurdish dancing. It’s easy to learn and I would encourage everyone to come along and give it a go.
“As it says on the poster this is going to be a Friendship Gig, hugely appropriate at a time when the hostility and violence against migrants and refugees is spreading its poison in our communities.
“As well as my talk on August 30 and the Friendship Gig on August 31, we are really looking forward to meeting some of Derry’s trad musicians at the Sunday session in Sandinos where we can swap a few tunes and maybe a song or two.”
Gaëlle Gormley is the North West Migrant Forum’s Integration and Welfare Officer.
She said the Friendship Gig is going to be truly intercultural affair and that everyone is welcome.
“It is going to be a great evening for everyone, but particularly our members. They are looking forward to a celebration of cultures and they will be more than happy to share their experiences.
“We are also looking for Syrian and Kurdish musicians, singers and dancers to join our friends from SOAS Ceilidh Band and perform with them.
If you want to be part of what is going to be a very special event, you can contact myself at g.gormley@nwmf.org.uk.”
The Friendship Gig is from 6pm to 8pm, it is free of charge and pre-registration is not required.
“All you have to do is come along and enjoy yourself,” Gaëlle added.