Talk: “Integration, Integration, Integration” by Takura Donald Makoni

Tuesday 29 July | 9.45am | £10

Takura Donald Makoni, Policy Director of ACSONI (African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland), will explore the meaning of this word ‘integration’ to government, communities and specifically what it means in a post Troubles society. Is Northern Ireland an integrated society? Separate schools, neighbourhoods, churches, cultures and traditions (orange and green) and yet still ‘newcomers’ are told to integrate! With whom? What are the implications of trying to integrate into a split community?

Takura was recently recognised by the Advancing Race Equality Awards judging panel as recipient of the Anti-Racist Leader of the Year Award 2024. Working in Northern Ireland with Belfast City Council, Beyond Skin, Arts Ekta, Glen Bank Community Centre, Terra Nova Productions, National Museums Northern Ireland  and JoinHer Network for over 20 years cements the feeling of ‘home’ that inspired him to settle in Belfast when he repatriated to the UK as an adult to seek and secure a better life for his family than was available in his economically deteriorating ancestral home of Zimbabwe.