What does our project title mean? This blog sets the scene for those who didn’t live through the era, or weren’t part of the sound system scene back then, or didn’t even live in Bradford.
Rites of Passage is about how from the 1960s to the present time, many young people have turned to music as a way of addressing issues of race, identity and culture. They would not accept the hostilities faced by their parents.
Sound systems evolved from Bradford’s neighbourhoods into an urban sound musical of national and international significance.
Sound systems challenged racial discrimination through self-help and being creative. They offered hope, confidence and purpose. They fostered skills and opportunities that changed the lives of many second and third generation British-born young people of Caribbean descent.
Rites of Passage captures this journey into adulthood and hopes to inspire another generation. Sound systems emerged during decades in Britain when racial tensions ran high and many cities faced industrial and urban decline. They continue to be outlets for expressions against injustice and inequality. They are reminders of resilience as we recover from the pandemic.
Rites of Passage makes Bradford’s Sound System Stories better understood and saves them for the future.
Rites of Passage: Bradford's Sound System Stories 