LIMAUK community members celebrating the end of summer 2008

On 30th August 2008, LIMAUK stormed Sheffield City with lots of fantastic social activities under the description “LIMAUK Summer Event”. Starting from 13:00 hours on Saturday till wee-wee hour the next morning, this one-day elegant celebration consisted of three main social activities: a friendly football match, an elaborate dinner and a grand dance. These social events provided colorful entertainments for Liberians coming from other sister organizations. The attendance joyously participated in what LIMAUK called ‘a day to celebrate our identity and consolidate our unity’.

The gorgeous social activities produced beautiful scenes and great atmosphere. The friendly football match, organized between LIMAUK football team and its counterpart from the Liberian Association in Sheffield, was watched by large sets of supporters from both quarters, with the ladies singing and cheering for their respective teams. The dinner and the grand dance took place at the Duke Community Centre in Sheffield with attendees enjoying some of the best Liberian dishes and dancing all night long to the greatest African tunes.

Containing the most varied landscapes in the country with over 150 woodlands and 50 public parks, Sheffield is officially considered as England’s safest city, with very little crime rate as compared to other big cities. This northwest metropolitan city has a thriving culture; the locals are very friendly. Moreover, the City including its surrounding towns is home to LIMAUK second largest membership following Manchester. Unlike other big cities where large numbers of LIMAUK membership are concentrated, the city central location means minimum travel distances for LIMAUK members coming from major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and London. Considering the above features including high safety score, varied landscapes for family sightseeing and the friendly locals, it is no surprise that the City is also home to the Gateway Scheme that has brought many Liberians to this country as permanent residents. Our occasion coincided with the anniversary celebration of this Scheme.

Before the Summer Event started, LIMAUK members who are direct beneficiaries of the Gateway Scheme attended a remarkable anniversary programme, where LIMAUK Treasurer Matina Kromah gave an interesting speech, extending gratitude to the government on behalf of the Liberian community in Sheffield. Other LIMAUK members including the president, Mr. Konneh, and the vice chairman of the Social Committee, Mr. Cheik Cheriff, were present to witness this great anniversary celebration of a scheme that has united so many Liberian families, relatives and friends, including members of LIMAUK.

The attendance at the Summer Event was great. Over 500 people including Liberians from Sheffield, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester participated in the occasion regarded as LIMAUK most talked-about and most successful celebration of all times. Around 98% of LIMAUK own membership were in full attendance from start to finish. Absentees included only those LIMAUK members who found it extremely impossible to attend the occasion due to uncontrollable constraints or circumstances.

These gorgeous entertainments hugely impressed prominent figures and personalities. Mr. John Brownell, president of the Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK) praised LIMAUK for organizing such brilliant activities. The ULO-UK senior executive did everything possible to attend the programme after having attended a Liberian wedding in London early on the same day. But he was quick to point out that under no condition that he could have missed this programme, counting on the numerous supports that ULOUK enjoys from LIMAUK. Mr. Brownell, who is also the general secretary of the Federation of Liberians in Europe (EFLA) said, “LIMAUK is one of UK most vibrant organizations who has the potentials to bring our people together. Many like the honorable president of the Liberian Association of Sheffield, Mr. Prince Taylor, see LIMAUK as a true implementing partner and an energetic champion of community cohesiveness, unity and peace.

LIMAUK always organises programmes for its members.  This programme is the third in six months, following two massive and well-attended meetings in April and July. At these meetings, members enjoyed little bit of gigs from the organization own DJ Last Nico who entertained the audience with a selection of hot African tunes. In the space of six months, the LIMAUK spirit has drawn its members together at all three events. I overheard the organization honorable president, Mr. Musa Konneh, mentioning in an interesting conversation to John Brownell that LIMAUK is one of the few UK based community organizations that is far capable of rallying its members and the general public on such a large scale. This occasion has truly sent a great message to the Liberian community in the UK that LIMAUK has huge potential when it comes to both uniting and entertaining our people. 

From start to finish, the atmosphere and mood at the various activities included in the Summer Event remained highly friendly, peaceful and socializing. There were no signs of any commotion between any attendees for that matter, nor were there any outbreak of arguments or incidents amongst the participants or at any of the scenes. All that took place only enhanced good relationships and community spirit between attendees.  Attendees spent great times together; some met old friends and had interesting conversations together, while others made new friends too.

 The dance hall was full of excitements and plenty of social networking especially amongst the young ones. Indeed, the occasion consolidated community unity as well as provided plenty of entertainments for participants at this one-day gorgeous festivity. It was a good way of saying good-bye to the scant sunshine received from the unlikely summer weather this year. The summer time was not particularly brilliant as there wasn’t enough sunshine as expected, perhaps due to the effects of global warming as argued by experts. But this exceptionally brilliant Summer Event through its gorgeous entertainments, fantastic social activities and successful outcomes has provided substitutes that will refresh memories for months to come.