With the largest Jamaican community outside of London, Birmingham’s Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square are the site this weekend of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Jamaican Independence.
The two Squares served up a rich mix of Jamaican culture, from travel agents to art and crafts, from Curried Goat to Saltfish and Ackee, from Red Stripe to Rum Punch, with Music and Dance on the stage in Chamberlain Square.
The Town Hall opened in 1834 for a charity music concert, is such an appropriate backdrop for “Jamaica in the Square“, over its 178 year history the Town Hall has been the stage for great artists from all different types of music. Just as appropriate is the Bronze statue of Thomas Attwood, a local banker and founder of the Birmingham Political Union, who lobbied for political reform in the 1830’s, and was duly elected as one of Birmingham’s first MP’s. Attwood a great supporter of freedom of speech sits close to the stage on the steps in Chamberlain Square, and he will still be sat there long after the event is finished.
Also appropriate that the Jamaican Olympic team, used Birmingham as its base in the lead-up to the games, the writer was there Saturday afternoon when the Squares erupted as Ussain Bolt cruised to victory in his 100 metre semi-final, I can only imagine the atmosphere during Sunday evenings final show on the Big Screen in Victoria Square.
Find out more of the rich cultural history of Birmingham on one of Midlands Discovery Tours, Saturday City Centre walks or one of their themed Sunday Walks.
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