Come join us for the Unity is Strength Multicultural Festival on 10th May 2025, at the Tannahill Centre in Paisley! It’s going to be a fun and exciting day, bringing people and communities from all over Scotland to stand together for a better world. We will celebrate unity in our communities and peace and justice for our world through the power of music, dance, poetry, stories and food.
What’s happening?
- Live performances: Enjoy music, dancing, poetry and inspiration from some incredible performers, representing cultures from around the world and communities from across Scotland, sharing important messages for a better world.
- Global food & stalls: Taste delicious food from all around the world and visit stalls from community groups and organisations.
- Interactive activities: Get involved in storytelling, poetry, and other activities that explore big world issues.
- Speeches & networking: Hear from community leaders, politicians, and young people who will talk about how we can work together to solve local and global challenges.
- Fun games: Join in on cultural games and activities!
Who should Come?
Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a family looking for a fun day out, someone who cares about making the world a better place, or just curious to learn more about different cultures and how to be a global citizen, this festival is for you. The event is free, so bring the whole family, and enjoy the day!
Come and celebrate unity, diversity, and global solidarity with us – together, we can build a fairer world!
Who are the organisers?
The event has been organised by the Diaspora Group for Global Citizenship (DGGC), a group of community leaders from across Scotland committed to global justice and racial equality. Members involved in the event include Pachedu, The African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association (ACAMHA Highland), Mongol Identity SCIO, West Lothian Community Race Forum, Glasgow Afghan United, African Women’s Group Scotland and the African Scottish Development Organisation. The DGGC works within Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA), a network of over 200 organisations in Scotland who are committed to achieving a fairer world for all.
Sponsors
This event is proudly supported by the Big Lottery Community Fund through the We Are Here For You project, run by Mongol Identity SCIO, which is dedicated to supporting and uplifting Scotland’s diverse communities by nurturing community spirit and celebrating cultural pride through inclusive events, shared initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration and connection.
We’d also like to thank SCIAF for their sponsorship. SCIAF is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. They believe that a green and just world is possible, if we put our faith into action. SCIAF’s vision is a just world, free of poverty, where we flourish and live in harmony with each other and all creation.
Performers and Artists
ACE V!S!ON
ACE V!S!ON’s lyrical prowess and thundering yet enchanting delivery leaves an imprint on listeners whether delivered through witty raps, poignant poetry or subtle vocal musings, refined through years of creating in the Glasgow scene.
As a queer identifying POC, they frequently collaborate with groups and organisations involved in social justice and activism, leading and participating in workshops dedicated to opening conversations around consent, mental health and healing through creativity, accountability and community care.
Ali Aitken
Ali Aitken is a Scottish DJ/Producer and one half of Karawane, playing global beats and Afro Latin dance music. He is the resident DJ for El Santo in Glasgow and the Alchemist chain as a member of Genre Music’s DJ roster. He has released tracks on Ghetto Disco Records, Only Good Vibes and Samedia Trax, with airplay on Radio 1, and has performed at Belladrum, Kelburn, Knockengorroch and Doune The Rabbit Hole festivals. He is also lead tutor at MIXHUB, the first government funded DJ School in Scotland.
Emmanuel Nvule
Emmanuel, known as Emmani the African dancer, began dancing at the age of 10 in his home country of Uganda where his community helped him attend school. His love for African dance led Emmanuel to travel the world, including to the UK where he now lives and works as a dance teacher. “I use my talent to make others happy and make the world a better place for those that are struggling with mental health issues,” he said. Emmanuel’s work enables him to support the orphaned children in his home country of Uganda.
Folklorny Subor Lipa SCIO
Slovak folklore ensemble Lipa SCIO (Lipa = linden tree; Slovak national tree) strives to preserve and promote the traditions and intangible cultural heritage of Slovakia (and in part of Moravia and Czechia). The group organises events for the benefit of Slovak, Moravian and Czech community living in Scotland. Activities include dance and wellbeing classes, workshops and social and educational gatherings with a focus on the preservation of the language and traditions, wellbeing of the community and individuals, and offering a sense of belonging and national pride. The group also represents the community at multicultural events and festivals in order to encourage wider community fusion and interaction.
Nada Shawa
Nada is a Palestinian poet and dancer who promotes justice and equality for everything on our planet. Since moving from Gaza to Scotland at the age of eight without her family to attend school and receive treatment for her Cerebral Palsy, Nada has since worked extensively in the field of refugee support and human rights and has written extensively and shared her poetry and dance at multiple events and festivals.
Theiyā Arts Dance Collective
An interactive, multi-media show using projection, live music, spoken word, and South Asian classical-contemporary dance, Maiden | Mother | Whore urges all to consider the relationship between self and society and what it means to exist in a gendered body today. Maiden | Mother | Whore emerged as a result of a creative partnership between Theiyā Arts Dance Collective and academics from the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society and is supported by Creative Scotland and Dance Base, Edinburgh.