Ipswich is home to people from all cultures and walks of life – and part of what makes it such a welcoming and diverse place to live is thanks to the hard work of a Nigerian woman who has called the town home for over 20 years.
Lara Uzokwe arrived in Ipswich with her youngest son, then aged six, in 2001. They had come to join her husband, a GP at Barack Lane Medical Centre.
Back then, Ipswich was a far different place to the town it is today, explained Mrs Uzokwe.
“There were very few black people,” she said. “You could spend the whole day in town and see perhaps one or two.”
At school, her son was the only black boy in his class. Finding the foods that reminded them of home was difficult too, and Mrs Uzokwe would find herself travelling to London to stock up.
British culture, too, took some getting used to. People were more reserved, and making friends was not always easy.
That need to build a community and a new family was how the group Karibu came to be.
The word translates to ‘You’re welcome’ in Swahili. At first, there were just a few women meeting at Mrs Uzokwe’s house, but word soon spread. The group is now a thriving community of people which regularly meets in Burlington Baptist Church Hall in Burlington Road.
Originally earmarked as a group for African women, Mrs Uzokwe stresses that the group welcomes everyone.
The group allows people to share and celebrate their culture, from traditional food to dance, and, most importantly, respect for each other and for themselves. For children who have grown up in Ipswich, this is a vital link with their parents' home countries.
At almost 20 years old, Karibu has nurtured a generation of children, who refer to each other as siblings.
Mrs Uzokwe said that she is incredibly proud of what Karibu has become, and of how Ipswich has changed in the intervening years.
“I have lived here for 23 years, the longest time I have lived anywhere in all my life,” she said.
“It’s my home now.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel