A choir with a poignant historic link to Wales performed outside a house in Adamsdown as a powerful new mural was unveiled. The gospel choir of the University of Alabama at Birmingham delivered a rousing rendition of two songs in Cardiff on Tuesday morning as part of a cultural exchange showing the deep and somewhat unexpected links between Alabama and Wales.
The relationship between Wales and Birmingham, Alabama, goes back to 1963 when the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in a vicious attack that marked a key moment in the civil rights movement.
Help came from an unexpected source as the issue became a top priority in Wales, with the Western Mail leading a campaign for donations to repair the church's stained glass window. An article in the Alabama newspaper the Tuscaloosa News on Thursday, September 19, 1963 quoted designer John Petts who said: "Perhaps Wales can show the way to other nations and even win support from many white Americans by making the first move to recreate this damaged church."
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Years later, the community of Birmingham, Alabama, still feels a deep affinity with Wales and the church's 'Welsh Window' still stands as testament. A delegation from UAB's gospel choir recently embarked on a cultural tour of Wales and dropped in to Cardiff to mark the unveiling of a very special mural.
It's entitled 'Call Them Out' and has been painted on a house in Moira Terrace in Adamsdown as part of Urdd Gobaith Cymru's "Peace and Goodwill Message" campaign for 2023. The mural, encouraging people to call out racism when they see it, was unveiled to the sound of the gospel choir's hypnotising tones.
Dr Reginald Jackson, an associate professor of music at UAB who leads the gospel choir, told WalesOnline: "We are friends and partners together and we are so honoured to be here. I'm so moved by the fact that Wales is constantly looking to address issues not just here in your country but all over the world.
"Anti-racism is very close to my heart personally because our ancestors dealt with so much racism in the United States. Now that you have committed yourselves to doing that, you're making the world more aware of how we need to be more unified, and I really appreciate that."
Explaining the relationship between Wales and Birmingham, he said: "As soon as it happened in 1963, it was on the front page of your newspaper. Wales was in tune with what was happening in the world.
"I'm trying to imagine that because television was there but it wasn't like it is now, so for it to make front page news is amazing. The Welsh Window still stands in the church - huge, when you walk in."
The choir visited the Urdd Eisteddfod in Llandovery earlier this month where they learned to sing in Welsh. Dr Jackson added: "I think this has been a life-changing experience for the students and for all of us, hearing the music, singing in the Welsh language, embracing your culture."
He added: "It's one thing to read or hear about it," but said the best part was "to be here, to see the beauty of your country, eat the food and meet wonderful good-hearted people."
The mural features the image of Nia Fajeyisan, a young rugby player who has been involved in the Urdd since she was young. She told WalesOnline it was "surreal" and "freaky" to see her face on the side of the building, but added: "I think they've done a beautiful job, so I'm not embarrassed by it."
She continued: "I'm a young ambassador for the #FelMerch project which aims to empower young girls and women through sport, and as with most young children in Wales I've been involved in the Urdd since I was a baby. I think the message of "Call Them Out" gives young people the bravery and confidence to call people out and be actively anti-racist instead of just 'not racist,' which we know isn't enough now."
The mural was designed by Unify Creatives, the agency responsible for the Gary Speed and My City, My Shirt murals in the capital. Unify's Yusuf Ismail told WalesOnline: "We were approached by the Urdd a few months back about their peace and goodwill message for 2023. It's about anti-racism, calling out racism, themes which naturally come up in our work.
"I spoke to people who gave us an insight into what the Urdd does, the great history and heritage it has. We decided to create a mural to support their campaign, and here we are in Adamsdown unveiling it today."
After their performance, members of the choir reflected on the mural's importance. Marcus Curry Jr, a choir member since his first semester of college in 2020, said the mural was "beautiful", adding: "The power behind it is how the message has continued on from generations to generations, promoting world peace and equality for all. I think it speaks of how involved Wales is in having a sense of community and depending on each other."
He said the trip to Wales had been "wonderful", and after performing at the Eisteddfod added: "I love the energy of the crowd with the singing, it's almost better than America! You guys really dance, sing and have fun with us, and it helps us deliver our best selves."
Kayleigh Adkins, who joined the choir in spring after moving two hours from home to attend UAB in August, said: "I've never actually been here to Wales so seeing the different types of people here, learning about the history between Birmingham and Wales is just awesome to me. I think the most beautiful thing is it's not just one person trying to create world peace - the whole country's coming together.
Chorister Wesley Lamberson added: "It's the first time I've gone outside of the USA with the choir and I've never been to Wales before. It's beautiful, Wales reminds me of home - especially the rural parts as I come from a small town with farms and pastures and that stuff.
"We don't have as many sheep though, you guys win the sheep lottery! I think to the choir this is a very unique experience on the other side of the world, to learn about the history of the Welsh Window."
The mural is located on Moira Terrace, near the junction with Glossop Road, and is part of the Urdd's 101-year tradition of sharing a message of peace and goodwill from Wales' young people.
The Urdd's chief executive Siân Lewis added: "The Urdd today is Urdd for all, Urdd i bawb, and it's very important we display an Urdd which is open for everybody, diverse, inclusive, and listens to the voice of young people. We've created an artwork that will be here for years to come and hopefully create that conversation with young people who live in this area in Adamsdown."
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