News / St Pauls
Kuumba Centre faces uncertain future
A community centre in St Paul’s could be forced to leave the building in which it is based after its trustees have allegedly been accused of trespass.
The Kuumba Centre on Hepburn Road was founded in 1974 as an arts and community resources centre, providing a service for people in Bristol of African and Caribbean descent.
But as it approaches its 50th anniversary, Kuumba faces an uncertain future.
is needed now More than ever
The centre’s trustees say the building should stay open and the current management board be supported.
Kuumba manager Sister Nwanyi has been connected to Kuumba since she was a teenager, when she moved to Bristol to live in the Rastafari community.
“We are calling on the city to support us in this time of growth and transition,” she said.
“Bristol needs continuity in our communities, and it needs groups like ours celebrating 50 years and reaching 100 years.”
Kuumba was formed “to offer the missing link in heritage and cultural learning that our children would miss by not growing up in their ancestral towns and villages” – photo: Martin Booth
In 2022, Kuumba was voted the best community organisation in the Rise Awards. It currently supports groups including mental health charities and dance classes, as well as hosting parties, music events and more.
Nwanyi said that since 2012, she and others “have cared for the premises with largely personal investments”.
She said: “The current Kuumba board are willing to work… to address concerns, and work towards securing a lease and delivering ambitious plans to move the centre and those we serve forward.”
One advisory board member added: “Kuumba is where I’ve had birthdays, baby showers, nine nights (a pre-burial funeral tradition).
“When studying, I did all my presentations on black thinkers thanks to the Kuumba library.
“Kuumba is the foundation of our community. Why are we going to let the wonderful place we have be taken from under our feet like that? It is not on.”
Bristol24/7 has asked the landlords of the building for a comment.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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