Gospel truth
Last updated: 05 December 2005
Groups like the United Harmony Singers continue to perform the inspirational music brought to Cardiff's docklands by West Indian immigrants.
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The gospel tradition became popular after thousands of West Indians arrived in Britain after the Second World War.
The so-called "Windrush generation" swelled the ranks of the black population who'd been in Cardiff for generations.
Many of the new arrivals found it difficult to integrate into existing Christian communities and formed their own churches.
Since then, the exhuberant gospel tradition of the Caribbean has found popularity with people of other backgrounds.
The United Harmony Singers, led by Humie Webbe, are well known in Butetown.
They show that gospel music has a lot in common with the traditional Welsh 'hwyl'.
your comments
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Derek, Valleys
Does anybody know of a gospel choir or band looking for a eletric bass player? I am intrested in playing music with a little emotion.
Marilia Angove
Just fantastic, food for the soul, from people with soul.
Thank you
Kathy from Newport
I think the gospel music is great and I would love to join a similiar one if there is one in Newport. I would love to join, it takes the boredom and dullness out of religion and makes it more interesting and would encourage children too, to know that church is not a boring place but a place of fun and full of happy people and more interesting.
Bob Millard from Cardiff
What wonderful singing! May it long continue in the heart of Cardiff, Butetown.
