Here’s a video of ORIGIN images. Or scroll down the page to see photographs of the event and read the comments.
Why not add your comments too?
ORIGIN Graduation 2011 was very special indeed.
Were you there? If so, what’s your account and comments of the big day?
Well, it was Saturday the 14th May. The community gathered for the arrival of the young men in the Village. Seven young men returned from their journey and asked an audience of about 300 people of family members, guests and supporters – to see them as young adults, not children.
And what a show the young men put on for the community. They performed their drumming piece together about the beginnings of the Universe. This was followed by their personal pieces where they reflected on the ORIGIN journey that for some of them began in January 2010, sixteen months earlier. A lot has happened in the Village since then.
Then to the their influential figures. So in came the Olympic athlete Jesse Owens from the 1930’s, the Parliamentarian Bernie Grant MP, the griot Gil Scot Heron, jazz musician Charlie Parker and the revolutionary Toussaint L’ouverture from the 1700’s. They all asked the community to remember them… because they are part of our history.
There was reflection, laughter and tears too as we considered the challenges faced by the group during the programme. Videos of Micah and Shaq, two of our gifted young men, just couldn’t help but touch us all. Yes, the tissues came out during the videos and as family members came to the stage to speak of their particular challenges.
It was a wonderful occasion. The graduating group performed some amazing pieces. Jumaane was incredible with his saxophone and later the piano and Laqwuan and Nathaniel delighted us with their conscious lyrics. Romaii had already burst onto the scene with a detailed account of the life and times of Jesse Owens.
Then Josh, a Graduate from 2008, performed a personal piece about family life. He reminded us that although we had arrived to celebrate, we should not forget that not all is well in the Village.
The graduating young men demonstrated their martial arts skills that they learned from training on Sundays. Then a drama piece about the New Cross Fire, where they announced to the community that they will never forget what happened to the young people who lost their lives in a birthday party in Lewisham – 30 years ago.
People, I’m still only in the first half of the evening and have made no mention of the arrival of Tunde Jegedy, internationally renowned Kora player, whose family from West Africa trace an unbroken line of Kora players going back over three hundred years.
Tunde performed a solo piece and again during the transition to adulthood ceremony.
Were you at this event? What do you think of it all – the ritual, the response of the parents, how so many Graduates from earlier years flooded forwarded to welcome the new arrivals? I tell you… it’s a blessing for me to be part of ORIGIN.
Bro. Pablo and Bro. Adisa during the Transition Ceremony
Drumming – The beginning of the Universe
Jumaane plays the Sax as Charlie Parker
Laqwuan as Gil Scott-Heron
Romaii performs Jesse Owens
Micah family interview
Shaq Family interview
ORIGIN Circle 2011
Martial Arts demonstration
Neil – Warrior
New young adults
Elder NNA Pepukayi and Chief Omilade receive Kofi
Graduates receive ORIGIN 2011 CIRCLE
Aaron, Graduate Ambassador steps up
Chief Omilade presides over Blessings
Graduation ORIGIN 2011
