Cultural Leicester Leicester is one of the UK’s most ethnically diverse cities. Here’s how it came to be known as such WORDS BY EMILY MILLER
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ore than half of the 355,218 people living in Leicester are from non-White-British backgrounds, according to the 2021 census. It was described as the ‘most ethnically diverse’ city in the UK according to the 2011 census. With over 70 different languages and dialects spoken in Leicester, one of the largest and oldest cities in England, we are proud of this multiculturalism. With a firm welcome to all as its key message, it’s no surprise that it has been that way for decades – and continues to be.
The history behind Leicester’s multiculturalism
It starts way back in the nineteenth century when the city saw the arrival of Jewish, Irish and Italian migrants who were later joined by Belgian refugees during the World War I. Then, during World War II in the 1930s and 40s, we saw the arrival of refugees from Eastern Europe – in particular Poland – as well as a second wave of Irish migrants. The Caribbean population settled here largely in the 1950s for work opportunities. Migrants from the Indian subcontinent began to travel and
settle here in Leicester in the 1960s, with their numbers greatly increased by the arrival of East African Asians in the early 1970s after Idi Amin expelled many Asians from Uganda. Since the 1980s, Leicester has seen the arrival of many small migrant groups, including those from Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia, as well as refugees from Monsterrat. And then, THE WONDERFUL MIX OF FAITHS, CULTURAL TRADITIONS, RESTAURANTS, FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE WHAT MAKES LEICESTER
in the ‘90s, the Somali community grew with migrants moving from the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. Since the enlargement of the European Union in 2004, a significant number of Eastern Europeans have also called Leicester home, as well as people from Eritea. However, it’s not only an expansion of the city through those escaping conflict, but also through the welcoming of thousands of students from around the world wanting to study at one or more of Leicestershire’s three universities.
How Leicester celebrates culture
The way in which we can celebrate our varied cultures often comes in the shape of festivals. Hindu festival Mela, which started in 1982, has continuously attracted thousands from miles around. The annual Caribbean Carnival also draws in many visitors – over 80,000 each year according to Carnivaland. One of the largest Caribbean Carnivals in the UK, it started in 1985 and takes place in August each year to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the West Indies. In addition, there are a plethora of other festivals, such as Diwali, Chinese New Year, Eid, Hanukah, Bonfire Night, St George’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and many more celebrated by so many of us in the city. It’s not only those migrating to live here that we celebrate in their diversity, though festivals such as the LGBT festival Pride also highlight the way in which our city is a welcoming, inclusive community for all. The wonderful mix of faiths, cultural traditions, restaurants, festivals, celebrations and places of worship are what makes Leicester the incredible, welcoming and culturally intelligent city that it is. NICHE | 19
