Unity Festival (U-FEST)
The idea of the “unity festival” was born out of a vision given from God to Pastor Osee Ntavuka, leader of All Nations Ministries in Plymouth. Pastor Osee came to the city with his family from Rwanda in 2001 with a passionate concern for people living in Plymouth.
He has sought with others earnestly and faithfully over more than 10 years for favour with Plymouth City Council for opportunities to share joy & wholeness to our great city and the people who call it home.
In 2009, the first ground-breaking community Hoe celebration took place – “Breaking Waves, Sounds of Glory”.
Out of this grew the Unity Festival which has taken place in the summer every year since involving local churches, schools, cross community groups and Christian ministries in the city. The event continues to attract both local visitors and tourists with a mix of styles in Christian music.
Today, the festival has grown into uFest a family, cross community event supported by businesses, community groups, activities and musicians that makes it a great day out for guys and dolls, lads and dads, mums and sons, daughters and divas alike!
Festival 2009
BREAKING WAVES, SOUNDS OF GLORY – 29 AUGUST 2009 PLYMOUTH HOE PROMENADE
All Nations Ministries, in association with a number of other local churches and Community groups, staged a colourful and lively free Concert on Plymouth Hoe, featuring African music, local performers, African Dance and Drumming, City of Plymouth Pipe Band, and an exhibition area showcasing the work of various Plymouth based charitable organisations.The event was supported by the Police Diversity Team and Churches Together in Plymouth and was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and local MP, Gary Streeter. Over 1,000 people visited the Concert and display stands during the day and programme highlights featured in the local press.
Festival 2010
PLYMOUTH UNITY FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL
PLYMOUTH HOE PROMENADE – On 9-11 July
July 2010, All Nations Ministries organised a walking parade and Unity Festival. The colourful and lively parade, which was led by the City of Plymouth Pipe Band and joined by the Malvern Division of the Boys’ Brigade and groups of young people and other voluntary organisations/churches, made its way from Drake Circus Shopping Mall through the city centre onto the Hoe. There were traditional African drumming displays including one from All Nations Children’s Drumming Group and a group from Coventry in the Sun Dial Square and the Piazza.
The Unity Festival itself took place on Plymouth Hoe and featured a series of free concerts with contributions from local bands and performers from various churches in the city including the All Nations Youth Choir. One of the cultural highlights of the varied programme was a display of traditional African ladies’ dancing from the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Children’s activities and storytelling, an exhibition from Plymouth High School For Girls, marquee areas showcasing the work being done by local community groups and voluntary organisations in the city also featured during the 3 days.
Saturday 10 July was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Superintendent Darren Lockley from Devon and Cornwall Police and the Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP. Over 500 people attended each day of the Festival and the highlights were featured in the local press. The project was supported by Churches Together in Plymouth. This project was made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Community Development Foundation and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Festival 2011
PLYMOUTH UNITY FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL
PLYMOUTH HOE PROMENADE – On 9-11 July
July 2010, All Nations Ministries organised a walking parade and Unity Festival. The colourful and lively parade, which was led by the City of Plymouth Pipe Band and joined by the Malvern Division of the Boys’ Brigade and groups of young people and other voluntary organisations/churches, made its way from Drake Circus Shopping Mall through the city centre onto the Hoe. There were traditional African drumming displays including one from All Nations Children’s Drumming Group and a group from Coventry in the Sun Dial Square and the Piazza.
The Unity Festival itself took place on Plymouth Hoe and featured a series of free concerts with contributions from local bands and performers from various churches in the city including the All Nations Youth Choir. One of the cultural highlights of the varied programme was a display of traditional African ladies’ dancing from the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Children’s activities and storytelling, an exhibition from Plymouth High School For Girls, marquee areas showcasing the work being done by local community groups and voluntary organisations in the city also featured during the 3 days.
Saturday 10 July was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Superintendent Darren Lockley from Devon and Cornwall Police and the Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP. Over 500 people attended each day of the Festival and the highlights were featured in the local press. The project was supported by Churches Together in Plymouth. This project was made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Community Development Foundation and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Festival 2012
PLYMOUTH UNITY FESTIVAL —06-08 JULY 2012
For the 4 consecutive year, All Nations Ministries was pleased to organise the annual Plymouth Unity Festival on Plymouth Hoe Promenade. The event was attended by The Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP, the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Chez Singh and the Deputy Lady Mayoress. Owing to bad weather, only 2days of the event could be held outdoors with the cultural and community celebration on the Saturday moved to Catherine Street Baptist Church Hall. However, an estimated 1300 people visited during the 3 day Festival in which local bands, guest performers and All Nations Choir participated alongside African traditional dance and drumming displays. A combined worship service took place on Sunday with live concerts each day on Friday and Saturday evenings which attracted both locals and tourists alike. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for local voluntary groups and organisations to their work in the city.
Festival 2013
THE ANNUAL 6TH UNITY FESTIVAL OUTREACH AT PLYMOUTH HOE 2014
This Outreach Annual community celebration and outreach was held on Plymouth Hoe Promenade on 23-24 Augustin 2014. The event was attended on the Saturday by special guests including The Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP, the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Pauline Murphy and Councillor Brian Vincent
The festival attracted crowds of 500 people each day with a rich and vibrant musician and songs write Mark Stevens, started in 1985 in the music industry in the iconic Australian television show “Young Talent Time” (due to make a comeback in 2012). Following this, Mark played Nick Page in the well-loved Australian Television sitcom “Neighbours”. Saved from the life of, the colloquially referred to, “Sex Drugs and Rock’n’Roll”, he has led worship at Hillsong Church in Australia and Abundant Life Ministries in Bradford England showing his love for the House of God. The journey of his life has brought him to this time and he is now positioned with his stellar solo album that is sure to be the first of many
African Gospel band from Bristol and contemporary music from Local bands African dance from the Great Lakes Region, African drumming group.
The UK RAPPER GUVNA B and Jonathan Hulton the Head of Ministry Relations GOD TV. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for local voluntary groups and organisations to showcase, their work in the city within marquee areas open to the public.
Graeme KirKup Diversity Police
Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Pauline Murphy
The Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP
Festival 2015
Unity Festival Annual community celebration and outreach was held on Plymouth Hoe Promenade on 03-04 June 2015. The event was attended on the Saturday by special guests including The Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth Councillor Dr John Mahony.
The festival attracted crowds of 500 people each day with a rich and vibrant musician and songs write from Local bands African dance from the Great Lakes Region, African drumming group. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for local voluntary groups and organisations to showcase, their work in the city within marquee areas open to the public.
Festival 2016
PLYMOUTH UNITY FESTIVAL 2016 – on 3-04 June.
The Unity Festival itself took place on Plymouth Hoe and featured a series of free concerts with contributions from local bands and performers from various bands from churches in the city including the All Nations Youth Choir. One of the cultural highlights of the varied programme was a display of traditional African ladies’ dancing from the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Children’s activities and storytelling, an exhibition from Plymouth High School For Girls, marquee areas showcasing the work being done by local community groups and voluntary organisations in the city also featured during the 2 days. Saturday 03 June was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Rwandan Ambassador in the UK. Devon and Cornwall Police and the Right Honourable Oliver Colvile MP. Over 1000 people attended each day of the Festival and the highlights were featured in the local press.
Festival 2017
The community festival and celebration was partly supported by People’s Health Trust, an independent charity addressing health inequalities across Great Britain It works closely with each Community Interest Company distributing grants.
For more information visit the following website. https://www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk
People of all ages, backgrounds and communities unite for a giant music and culture extravaganza on the city’s waterfront. uFest transforms Plymouth Hoe 03-04 June 2017 live bands take to the stage throughout the weekend.
Plymouth Unity Festival – “uFest” continues to attract both local visitors and tourists with a mix of styles in music, children’s events and family attractions.
One of the cultural highlights of the varied programme was a display of traditional African ladies’ dancing from the Great Lakes region of East Africa and youth activities and storytelling, marquee areas showcasing the work being done by local community groups and voluntary organisations in the city also featured during the 2 days. Saturday 03 June was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Superintendent from Devon and Cornwall Police. Over 1000 people attended each day of the Festival and the highlights were featured in the local press.
Festival 2018
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