The Jamaica Society Leeds, in partnership with St Kitts & Nevis Association Leeds, is organising a cultural feast in celebration of the Windrush legacy and the generations who followed.
The day will include live performances, spoken word, Caribbean food and music, with Three The Hard Way Sound Clash featuring three generations of deejays tracing the music that has shaped British Caribbean life, from ska and rocksteady to reggae, soca, lovers rock, danehall, garage and grime.
Jamaica House will also feature a Reflection Wall installation, inviting visitors to share their thoughts and responses to the Windrush legacy. A participatory installation where the public will respond to the prompts: “Because of Windrush, I can…”, “What I carry forward is…” and showcasing reflections from school pupils.
The day forms part of a wider programme of cultural and educational activity delivered by Jamaica Society Leeds, including schools workshops across Leeds schools and the Young Entrepreneurs Expo held today on Windrush Day itself, 22 June, at Jamaica House, 3-6pm.
Kamara Hamilton, university student and young member of the Jamaica Society Leeds:
“Whenever I think of the Windrush generation, I think of my grandparents and their closest
friends. The strength they needed to survive, build a life and still chase their dreams so far from
home is powerful. Their stories can inspire anyone.
It’s a migration story that crosses cultures and generations. The people who came from the
Caribbean brought skills, culture, intellect and personalities so strong that you can still see their
impact two or three generations later. Their contribution is woven into the UK’s history and its
mix of cultures.
Windrush Day is about remembering and celebrating their legacy. May their stories, the barriers
they pushed through, the institutions they strengthened and the culture they carried with them
continue to inspire future generations.”
Dr Khadijah Ibrahiim, D. Litt, FRSL, poet, theatre maker and literary activist: “Black British music is more than sound; it is an archive of migration, resistance and belonging. Through the legacy of Windrush and beyond, music becomes a vessel through which identity is remembered, reimagined and passed between generations.”
Richard Smith Jr, Leeds-based deejay and former Sound System operator and radio announcer:
“The music coming out of Jamaica connected us to stories we grew up hearing from our parents
that tied us back to our Caribbean roots. The music pushed us to stand up for racial justice and
gave us an identity we could claim with pride.
Sound-system culture came with that music and became our safe space. Back then, the City
Centre didn’t feel safe for us because of the threat of racial attacks. So we built our own cultural
spaces where we could gather and be ourselves.”
The Windrush 2026 programme celebrates Jamaica House’s role as a living heritage and community space – and legacy for the next generations.
Funded by a Windrush Day Scheme Grant, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Near Neighbours, Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership and the Economic and Social Research Council
Date and time: Saturday 4 July, 2–6pm
Location: Jamaica House, 277 Chapeltown Rd, Potternewton, Leeds LS7 3HA
