The Warren represents Humber Mouth Opening Event. By Mo

USIZO community choir ladies.

Directly after the Humber Mouth Launch party, I accompanied Maggie Hannan to 'The Warren Centre' to take some photos and get a taste for what the Humber Mouth Festival is all about. This is my first time, and I'm certainly not a writer, far less a critic, leave that to the experts; Maggie and Steve that is, but here's a glimpse of what I experienced at Freedom of Expression 7:30 that night.

Searching for my 'sweet spot' to take photos I noticed, how can I put it, some foreign looking faces smiling at me in the crowd, so of course I went to say hi. Two full rows of ladies and gentlemen from Zimbabwe, smiling like only they can, thrilled to be here and to take part. It was later I realized this was the USIZO community choir.

They have lived in Hull three years after escaping the terrors of Mugabe and his regime. Nevertheless, they were smiling and ready to perform for us. And did they! With a routine calmness, the choir, led by the ladies, began the rythyms and dance that belong to Africa alone. The simple beauty of these peoples self expression through dance, drums and song, reaches somewhere deep in my psyche and just gives me pleasure. It is beautiful.

'An inspiring performance from young people' is what the preview for the Warren predicted, true to form it was inspiring to see young people from the audience perform. Singers, solos, poetry. I felt it was a reflection of inclusion, the fact that the Humber Mouth is more than big name authors and writers. Ok, Zimbabwean performers 'Husi' do make it international too, but Hull's children are in there taking part.

Which of course leads me onto Husi, who's entrance to the stage made you wonder if the Warren was located in the Kalahari or something. It was spectacular to see them dressed in traditional costumes, we were all thrilled.

Powerful, energetic, dance and wonderfully controlled harmonies to the sound of feet stamping creating intricate rhythms. It was terrific. To finish off a wonderful opening event 'Husi' invited the audience to join in - dancing to celebrate the start of this years Humber Mouth Festival. A very special night.

Continued on www.thisisull.com...... The Humber Mouth Homepage.

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