Category: Featured News
Bristol 24/7 bring us a brand new Awards ceremony: Bristol Legends!
Bristol Legends: The Shortlist a brand new Awards Ceremony – Ujima are proud to be nominated!
Ujima Radio are incredibly proud to have been nominated as a Bristol Legend in the trailblazing new awards ceremony coming to Bristol this year and brought to us by independent news service Bristol 24/7.
Bristol Legends is a completely unique awards night and celebration dedicated to the people, organisations and charities that make our city so special. From community champions to inspiring local organisations, Bristol Legends is Bristol 24/7’s way of recognising the individuals shaping this place for the better, whilst bringing everyone together for one unforgettable evening.
Collating more than 1500 public nominations and their own personal favourites, our teams of expert panellists have finalised the shortlists for Bristol Legends 2026.
Each list aims to celebrate the incredible talents, organisations and communities that we have in Bristol, from sporting stars and innovative minds to musicians and artists making waves in their fields.
The winner of each category will be announced at our first-of-its-kind awards ceremony at Ashton Gate on March 6.
For more informaton head to Bristol 24/7 website.
Nominations below:
Music – sponsored by YTL
Other:
Youth Groups and projects:
Inclusive communities:
Activists:
Other:
Visual Arts
Artists:
Venues:
Exhibitions and Events:
Newcomer:
Arts leaders:
- Colin Higginson / Art in Motion
- Matthew Austin and Kate Yedigaroff / MAYK
- Euella Jackson / Rising Arts Agency
Performing Arts
Performer:
Newcomer:
Venue:
Event or Show:
Other:
Event:
Live Act/DJ:
Newcomer:
Venue:
Start-ups:
Innovation:
Business leaders:
Independent retailer:
Global impact:
Other:
Sport – sponsored by Exacta Technologies Ltd.
Venues and facilities:
Sportsperson:
Sports team:
- Bristol Thunder Korfball Club
- Bristol Swifts Badminton Club
- Afghan Youth Cricket Bristol
- Bristol After Stroke Walking Football
Newcomer:
Other:
Sustainability – sponsored by Bristol Waste
Nature and biodiversity:
- Heart of BS13/Jenny Liggitt
- Festival of Nature
- Black2Nature
- Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust (Really Wild Lockleaze)
Energy, home and transport:
Activists, campaigners and volunteers:
Other:
Food and Drink – sponsored by ViFi
Restaurants:
Pubs and bars:
Cafes:
Other:
Ujima Radio Powerplays February 2026!
Congratulations to this month’s successful February Powerplays 2026!
Every month Ujima Radio selects 10 of the very best tracks released in the West Country & Wales which then get featured twice an hour across our Primetime Shows including The Rise Up Breakfast Show Mon-Friday 8-10am and The Cruising Show Mon-Friday 4-6pm and the Urban Grooves Playouts.
Plus you can listen to all the 10 songs on the playlist below.
If you are an artist based in this area you could have your track featured on the Ujima Radio Powerplays. All you have to do is send your track on MP3, make sure the lyrics are clean and conscious, include a headshot of yourself, your social media tags and if you are successful we will let you know.
Email: info@ujimaradio.com
Put in the Subject bar “Powerplays”.
Good luck and keep listening to hear when your track gets picked!
Listen in Bristol on 98FM and DAB and worldwide online:
Support and follow them online with their socials at the bottom of the page.
This month’s Powerplays are listed below:
Support and follow this months artists on their Instagrams:
#bristol #westcountry #wales #bristolmusic #powerplays #ujimaradio #emergingtalent #newmusic
Ujima Radio 1st Powerplays of 2026!
Congratulations to this month’s successful January Powerplays 2026!
Every month Ujima Radio selects 10 of the very best tracks released in the West Country & Wales which then get featured twice an hour across our Primetime Shows including The Rise Up Breakfast Show Mon-Friday 8-10am and The Cruising Show Mon-Friday 4-6pm and the Urban Grooves Playouts. Plus you can listen to all the 10 songs on the playlist below.
If you are an artist based in this area you could have your track featured on the Ujima Radio Powerplays. All you have to do is send your track on MP3, make sure the lyrics are clean and conscious, include a headshot of yourself, your social media tags and if you are successful we will let you know.
Email: info@ujimaradio.com
Put in the Subject bar “Powerplays”.
Good luck and keep listening to hear when your track gets picked!
Listen in Bristol on 98FM and DAB and worldwide online:
Support and follow them online with their socials at the bottom of the page.
This month’s Powerplays are listed below:
Support and follow this months artists on their Instagrams:
#bristol #bristolmusic #ujimaradio #westcountry #wales #emergingtalent
Kwanzaa
Ujima Radio celebrates!
Kwanzaa is the African cultural holiday Kwanzaa, it was created by professor and activist Maulana Karenga in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday but is celebrated between 26th December to 1st January to highlight African heritage, community and family values.
Kwanazaa is built around seven principles (Nguzo Saba), one for each day:
- Umoja – Unity.
- Kujichagulia – Self-determination.
- Ujima – Collective work and responsibility.
- Ujamaa – Cooperative economics.
- Nia- Purpose.
- Kuumba – Creativity.
- Imani – Faith (confidence in community and the future).
The holiday is celebrated by family and community gatherings, decorations inspired by African cultures, lighting the kinara which is a candle holder with seven candles, music, dancing, traditional foods, and reflection on the principles.
At Ujima Radio 28th December is especially meaningful as the principle reflects that no one moves forward alone. We are a community that builds, uplifts, repair and grows together – we share responsibility for one another and for our community’s well-being, it is a principle of a shared purpose. We empower voices, community stories, and community action.
So, on 28th December, as families gather around the world to light the third candle on the kinara, we celebrate with them. We appreciate the spirit of collective work, and we recognise everyone who contributes to the strength to our community- listeners, volunteers, creators, organisers and all of you readers.
Kwanzaa teachers that our future is something we build together.
Stay with us, because today Ujima radio is filled with music, stories and voices that reflect the spirit of Ujima. Together… we rise.
Written by: Katie McCormick
Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum!
A dazzling festive experience awaits at Christmas at Westonbirt!
A truly magical experience!
Just a 40 minute drive from Bristol get ready for an unforgettable Christmas evening at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. This magical after-dark trail returns for 2025 with brand-new lights, spectacular installations, and festive fun for the whole family!
Created by the award-winning producers behind Christmas at Kew, this is an absolute must-see this festive season.
Wander through the illuminated arboretum, where twinkling lights bring the stunning setting to life. Marvel at the brand-new installations for 2025, including ‘Laser Lights’, ‘Mycelium Network’, ‘Fireworks Trees’ and ‘Wicker Animals’. Keep your eyes peeled for Father Christmas, as you can spot him on the trail!
Westonbirt Arboretum – Forestry of England have got everything you need for a magical night to remember including festive fairground rides.
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Westonbirt Arboretum was established to protect trees and are committed to conservation, education and participation to help connect people with trees by supporting a wide range of activities at the arboretum. And it is truly a stunning & beautiful experience.
With accessibility facilities for disabled, young & old they have gone above and beyond to ensure everyone is welcome! Home to 2,500 different types of tree and shrubs from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure! You can even walk up amongst the tree tops with this incredible Tree Top Walkway, a perfect spot to catch the sunset!
Experience the serene beauty of Westonbirt in winter, where frosty landscapes and evergreen giants create a magical escape from the everyday.
From 5th November through to December 2025, families can join Stick Man for a magical winter adventure based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson. Josephine Lovelle, Marketing Manager at Forestry England, said: “Through interactive activities and seasonal discoveries, families can create special Christmas memories whilst learning about how trees and animals adapt to the colder months.”
To plan your visit search their website:
https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum
#visitwest #WestonbirtArboretum #westcountry #visit
Photos by: Barney Congdon
Community: Becoming Black and British
Watch online now!
Community: Becoming Black and British – Bristol Edition of this amazing series by The World Reimagined captures the heart of a city shaped by resilience, belonging, and legacy. Through the memories of the Windrush generation and their children, this film reflects on what it meant and still means to build community, find identity, and create home in Bristol.
Watch online now:
Community: Becoming Black and British – Bristol shines a light on the lived experiences of Black communities across the UK and the powerful influence of community organisations, youth leaders, and local changemakers.
This Bristol story sits alongside films from other cities, each exploring resilience, history, and the future of Black British identity.
As part of the project, young Black creatives were mentored by industry experts, gaining the skills to conduct interviews and shape the documentary through their own lens. Their work brings together stories from the Windrush generation, community elders, and younger voices, bridging generations through storytelling.
Filming took place in meaningful community spaces including the Malcolm X Community Centre, Pickle Factory, and Easton Community Centre, capturing the rhythm, warmth, and truth of Black British life.
Directed by Euella Jackson.
Watch. Listen. Remember.
The story of community lives on.
Ujima Radio Powerplays December 2025!
Congratulations to this month’s successful December Powerplays 2025!
Every month Ujima Radio selects 10 of the very best tracks released in the West Country & Wales which then get featured twice an hour across our Primetime Shows including The Rise Up Breakfast Show Mon-Friday 8-10am and The Cruising Show Mon-Friday 4-6pm and the Urban Grooves Playouts. Plus you can listen to all the 10 songs on the playlist below.
If you are an artist based in this area you could have your track featured on the Ujima Radio Powerplays. All you have to do is send your track on MP3, make sure the lyrics are clean and conscious, include a headshot of yourself, your social media tags and if you are successful we will let you know.
Email: info@ujimaradio.com
Put in the Subject bar “Powerplays”.
Good luck and keep listening to hear when your track gets picked!
Listen in Bristol on 98FM and DAB and worldwide online:
Support and follow them online with their socials at the bottom of the page.
This month’s Powerplays are listed below:
Support and follow this months artists on their Instagrams:
Rise for Jamaica!
In the wake of the devastating Hurricane Melissa, members of the Bristol community are partnering with Bristol Old Vic to host “Rise for Jamaica,” a powerful evening of solidarity and support for those affected by the catastrophic storm that has left countless Jamaican families without homes, food, and essential resources.
“Rise for Jamaica” promises to be an unforgettable evening featuring an exceptional lineup of artists, performers, and creatives who have donated their time and talent to support relief efforts Cleo Alberta Lake Dionne Draper Zed Regal DJ Style Nia Bimkubwa T ‘Relly’ Jarrett Sukina Douglas Rachel Achol De Garang Ruth Pitter Asher Simmons Corrine Willis, MoYah, the Rooterz (featuring Oasis) Paulett Wint Angela Linton-Miller and more to be announced.
The evening will blend music, spoken word performances, and fashion, creating a celebration of Caribbean culture while raising vital funds for hurricane relief.
All proceeds from the evening will go directly to Food for the Poor Jamaica, an organisation working tirelessly on the ground to provide emergency relief and long-term recovery support to affected communities.
Grab your tickets and come join us
Ticket available at:
https://Riseforjamaica.eventbrite.com
£10 in advance / £15 on the door
We Don’t Do That Here – BCFm & Ujima Radio join forces!
Two of Bristol’s community stations, BCfm and Ujima Radio join forces to create a groudbreaking documentary!
In August 2024, unrest swept across the UK after the tragic killings in Southport, fuelled by online misinformation and weaponised fears about migration. In Bristol, the tension erupted in Castle Park and outside the Mercure Hotel, where asylum seekers were housed. The police presence was thin. The danger was real. And yet, what happened next was extraordinary, ordinary Bristolians put their bodies on the line to defend their neighbours.
We Don’t Do That Here is a one-hour audio documentary from Bristol’s community radio stations – BCfm and Ujima, weaving together multiple in-depth interviews with those who lived it: refugees inside the hotel with their children, activists and local residents on the streets, police officers, youth workers, charity leaders, journalists, and community broadcasters. Their voices reveal the fear of that week, the courage of those who stood in solidarity, and the deep divisions that surfaced under pressure.
The programme also investigates the powerful role of media and misinformation, such as how a single false claim spiralled into riots, how national outlets inflamed stereotypes, and how community radio and grassroots networks became lifelines of truth. Listeners hear not just about what happened, but why, and what it tells us about Britain in an age of polarisation.
Above all, this is a story of resilience. From smiles through hotel windows to grandmothers holding banners, from grassroots charities to city-wide counter-protests, Bristol’s communities demonstrated that hate would not go unchallenged. This documentary asks: what does it take to keep a city safe, welcoming, and united, and what can the rest of the country learn?
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors:
Muneera Pilgrim – Creative and Broadcaster
Roger Ball – Academic Researcher
Anonymous – Afghan Asylum Seeker
Jim (Not real name) – Bristol Anti-Fascists
Serena Sergeant – Avon & Somserset Police
Desmond Brown – Growing Futures CIC
Olivia Lamont Bishop – Borderlands Bristol
Maya Mate-Kole – Mwanzo Project
Producers: Marcus Smith & Miranda Rae
Sound Design: George Colwey
Photo Credit: Simon Holliday
Funding: Bristol City Council