In July 2024 Global Village was invited to be part of the 50th birthday celebrations at Old Hall in East Bergholt.

Around 300 people attended the golden anniversary celebrations, which included a day of live music, performances and dance, an exhibition, talks and reunions, a grand procession led by colourful golden clad characters, with food and drink prepared by the community.

Global Village‘s storyteller Usifu Jalloh shared tales from Africa alongside poet John Row, and dancer Jaymini Bedia also showed us how to strut our stuff, Bollywood style. The amazing Donimo also performed, as well as Piers the Poet, and Artemio’s band The Velors, three brilliant artists who grew up in Old Hall. Friends Rosy and Ludo taught circus skills, Dr Spin Off invited all to play on his ‘crazy bikes’, and attendees danced alongside two morris dancing groups and a Ceilidh Band. The incredible headliner was the Congolese band, The Zong Zing All Stars who encouraged everyone to get involved, and the evening was topped off with three DJs with dancing until the early hours.

Daisy Anna Lees, who is a Child of Old Hall said “The 50th Anniversary of Old Hall Community was a very important weekend for all of us. 50 years of sharing a big house and looking after the land together is a big achievement since 1974. The artists who were invited to the event really made the day with their stories, music, dance, and performance. All in all the day was a whirlwind of entertainment and friendship, we hope it harked back to the Albion Fayres of the 70s & 80s which Old Hall was instrumental in creating. Here’s to another 50 years of Old Hall – at least!”

Old Hall is an intentional community in rural Suffolk, comprising a group of families and individuals who have chosen to live, farm and eat together in a large historical building with around 65 acres of land. Many of their social activities are informal and spontaneous, and they sometimes have big parties and hold events open to the public. They also have an annual summer camp for children plus maypole dancing and a pantomime.

Essex Cultural Diversity Project hopes to return to Old Hall in 2025 with a Global Village for all to enjoy.

Find out more at www.oldhall.org.uk