Llangollen International Eisteddfod has an enviable reputation going back to 1947 for bringing the world to Llangollen – and to Wales. Hundreds of thousands of people from dozens of countries have visited over the years, bringing their cultures and languages to North Wales.
Llangollen has always welcomed and celebrated global creativity and diversity whilst championing world peace and our common humanity. But what about those communities from many, many countries who have established themselves in Wales many years ago, or who have moved here recently for all kinds of reasons – as a result of wars, or seeking asylum and sanctuary?
How do they see themselves and how best to provide them with an opportunity to show Wales and the world how their communities are coping and indeed thriving in Wales?
That was a challenge that Llangollen International Eisteddfod and the Arts Council of Wales wanted to tackle, through the medium of poetry, music and dance. And that’s how, and why the Community Rhythms and Roots project was designed and developed over the last two years.
In July 2024, three groups from various parts of Wales took part in a pilot project to perform at Llangollen, to share and showcase their own cultural backgrounds and to tell the world about their communities living here in Wales. It was a great success and in 2025, six dynamic groups from across Wales started working on their individual community projects.
Specialist community consultants Richie Turner and Lyndy Cooke along with project directors Garffild and Sian Eirian Lewis helped guide the groups through the creative process. All the groups were offered expert advice and support in storytelling and performance by three key external partners – Literature Across Frontiers, the National Dance Company of Wales and Community Music Wales. All six groups showcased their performances on the Globe Stage at the Eisteddfod on the 9th July 2025.
It was truly a wonderful afternoon of creativity, passion and energy, kicked off, literally, by the Wrexham based Dance Empire company in partnership with the EYST youth group, a group of young people from various countries who have settled in the Wrexham area. The youngsters, ranging from 5 to late teens, presented a ten-minute performance through song and dance on the theme of ‘Peace Worldwide’. English modern pop songs were used as part of the performance and a well-known Welsh song, ‘Yma o Hyd’ had everyone singing along at the end.
Their message simply was that no matter where you come from, or the challenges you face in life, we are still here, united together. Next on the Globe Stage came Samarpan, an Indian dance group who demonstrated a beautifully touching piece of classical Indian dancing mixed with Welsh cultural influences representing unity, belonging and hope for the future.
They presented Welsh traditional folk songs intertwined with Indian traditional dance movements in a performance that was both mesmerising and emotional. The Caminhos community group from the Cardiff area showcased a blend of Brazilian and African dance, chant and the spoken word. In a performance full of colour and energy they told their story of a community that lived in harmony but faced external forces that created trouble and chaos. This performance had everything including a simulated martial arts fighting sequence and the mix of chanting, singing and dancing really reached out to an emotional and appreciative audience.
Oasis came next – a collective performance presented by the Gambas Band and the Wales One World Choir. Together they delivered a performance that celebrated culture and language by using a range of powerful songs to describe the special bond of being asylum seekers here in Wales. It was truly a memorable performance based around their clear messages of ‘making the world a better place’ of being ‘free to fly’ and to ‘dream of love’.
Singing and dancing to the sound of Afrobeats by TGP Teulu Dawns Cymru really got the audience going! These are a young group of asylum seekers who wanted to shed light on themes such as identity, heritage, resilience and the power of community. The performance started with an introduction presented in Welsh and English by one of the members and the messages were “world peace starts with us” and “we are not broken”. On a very hot day, this was a performance full of energy and emotion that introduced the audience to a tight knit and close community living in south Wales.
And that energy and emotion flowed seamlessly into the next and final performance by the Balkan Roots group from Cardiff and Newport, a collective made up of individuals from countries that formed the old Yugoslavia and who now live in Wales. They share a Balkan heritage and their story told through song and dance is about building bridges between the old and the new, between traditions and a new way of life and using community and kindness to unite nations. This was a performance full of verve and energy and some wonderful singing – with both song and dance taken into the audience at the end of the performance for a memorable joint celebration.
The groups then took part in Llangollen’s Parade of Nations, alongside 4000 international competitors from across the World – capping off a wonderful afternoon celebrating Wales’ diversity through song and dance.
Garffild Lewis, one of the project directors said, “The Community Rhythms and Roots project has shown us the extraordinary power of the arts to unite people, celebrate diversity, and tell stories that matter. Seeing these communities share their traditions, their struggles, and their joys on the Globe Stage was profoundly moving. This is what the Eisteddfod is all about – a space where cultures meet, connect, and create something truly unforgettable.”
This was a day – and a project – that will be remembered and treasured by all concerned. Dafydd Rhys Chief Executive Arts Council of Wales was amongst the hundreds of people who watched the groups – and he was both delighted with the performances and very pleased with the whole Rhythms and Roots project.
The last word must go to one of the performers:
“…being part of such an iconic Welsh festival—especially through the Community Rhythms and Roots programme—was a new and inspiring opportunity. It allowed us to present Indian classical and community-based art forms alongside the rich cultural traditions of Wales in a globally recognised setting. It was a meaningful step in our ongoing journey of using the arts to build cultural bridges”.
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is delighted to announce that Doctor Cymraeg will be the special guest at the first ever Paned a Sgwrs (Cuppa and a Chat) evening. The event is organised by the Eisteddfod’s Welsh Language Working Group in partnership with SDCP (South Denbighshire Community Partnership).
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has launched an International Flag Appeal to help keep the flags of many different countries flying from the town’s famous bridge all year round.
David praised the Eisteddfod’s organisers and Welsh hospitality:
Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of Luciano Pavarotti and organisers of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales have paid tribute to the “outstanding” New Zealand Youth Choir. This follows their remarkable triumph as Choir of the World at the world-renowned festival.
