In its 19th year, the Mayor of London’s free, annual festival ‘Eid in the Square’ drew in over 18,000 guests to celebrate the end of Ramadan. And a captivating fusion of fashion, music, and dance, showcasing the beauty of Uzbek, Uyghur, and Azerbaijani cultures expertly curated and hosted by Kamila Erkaboyeva.
It’s this exact square, I would be coming to as a little girl everytime I was homesick in hope to see a piece of my home represented. I spoke zero English when I moved to London, no one heard of Uzbekistan at the time, and was constantly highlighting Uzbekistan on the map, giving free geography lessons to other kids and adults. Little did I know, that one day and many years later, I would be the one to present Uzbekistan to 18,000 people on this exact spot.
Cultural Style Week is a "movement created to celebrate the beauty of culture" said a comment from The Independent and I had been invited by Candy, the founder of this movement to represent and highlight the culture of Uzbekistan. It was Candy who has given me an opportunity and absolute freedom to organise and prepare a showcase.
The sounds of doyra and nay, have always allowed me to tap back into my roots during London grey days and to introduce this on one of the most historical squares and stages in London, was an absolute honour. I brought talented folk musicians from the Uzbek community to make this dream happen, highly talented Uzbek musicians Khurshidbek Ubaydullaev, Dostonjon Mirzokarimov, and Shokhrukh Khalilov transported spectators on a melodic journey through Uzbek and Uyghur traditions. The enchanting strains of the 'doyra' and 'ney' resonated through the square, accompanied by the graceful movements of Uyghur dancers Hayrigul Saba and her daughter Sayide. Together, they wove a tapestry of cultural unity, embodying the shared heritage of "brother nations."
But the celebration didn't end there. It seamlessly transitioned to the elegance of Azerbaijani culture, introducing a mesmerizing folk dancer Sakina Mukhtarli. I grew up eating Bakinskaya (Baku) paxlava in Tashkent, and my love for Azerbaijani culture has only flourished even more after being warmly welcomed by the Azerbaijani diaspora here, in London. It was only fair to do the same for them.
Celebration of culture continues as the Uzbek community and diaspora is now eagerly preparing for a second year of Uzbek culture and food festival in London, also located on the historical spot opposite the Tower Bridge. The festival is due to take place between 8/06 and 09/06 highlighting the rich and mesmerising culture of Uzbekistan!
Written by: Kamila Erkaboyeva
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