Oxford's Multicultural Open Mic Hits 10 Years of Music, Dance & Unity!

Confluence Collective Oxford is marking its 10th anniversary with a vibrant celebration at St Luke's Church, highlighting the city's rich diversity through music, dance, and poetry. Since its founding, the group has held monthly gatherings where people from backgrounds such as Punjabi, African, Korean, Middle Eastern, and Lani come together to perform and share their cultures. Malcolm Atkins, the founder, describes the event as 'a multicultural open mic at its best,' emphasizing the importance of reaching out to all communities in Oxford.

The idea for the collective began when Malcolm Atkins was working with Crisis Skylight Oxford, a charity supporting homeless people. He noticed that his classes attracted participants from many different cultural groups. After the classes ended, he wanted to create something that would continue to bring these people together. Atkins, a retired musician, has become deeply committed to using music as a way to build community. He points out that Oxford is often associated with white, indie, rock bands like Radiohead, but he believes the city has much more to offer. He wants to break down barriers and show that Oxford is a place where everyone can enjoy and participate in the arts, regardless of their background.

Della Izadi, a British-Iranian singer and dancer, is a co-founder of the collective. She says their goal was to make music accessible to everyone. Izadi explains that when the group plays a song, everyone feels included, whether they are singing, playing an instrument, dancing, reciting poetry, or simply listening. Growing up in Iran, Izadi was unable to freely express herself through art and music, especially as a woman. Moving to Oxford as a teenager was a refreshing change, giving her many opportunities to participate in and enjoy the arts. Another core member, Nuzhat Abbas, says the monthly sessions have been empowering for all participants. Abbas, who was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, feels privileged to live in Oxford and values the chance to share her musical traditions. She believes that integrating with local communities is essential and hopes the collective will continue to bring people together to share their music, stories, and history. The anniversary celebration will feature special performances, including a set from a well-known folk legend, and the group encourages everyone to join in and be part of the collective atmosphere.