Identity is an annual celebration of culture, community and belonging at Oundle, bringing pupils together through music, dance and performance. First conceived by pupils, it has grown and evolved over the past few years, with those involved bringing fresh ideas and making the event their own.
This year’s performance was led by our senior PPF Racial Diversity Ambassador, Mofe, who has been involved with Identity since its beginnings. Here, she reflects on the experience of taking the lead, the people who have shaped the event along the way and a growing musical partnership with Prince William School.
Directing and composing Identity has been one of the most difficult, but also rewarding, experiences of my time at School. Having been part of Identity’s creation when I was a Third Former, it feels incredibly full circle to have led it as the senior PPF Racial Diversity Ambassador.
Gathering this many pupils in a School as busy as ours is no small achievement. From coordinating rehearsals to communicating with performers and staff, the process has taught me so much about management, organisation and the importance of trusting others to bring their own strengths to a project.
Last year, Prince William School’s (PWS) gospel choir made its Identity debut, and it was a huge success, so much so that it inspired Anne, one of our Heads of School, and me to start our own gospel choir here at Oundle. It therefore felt only right to invite them back to perform a joint rendition of Wade in the Water. The execution of this piece left me tearful. I feel it is an extremely impactful song, with a strong message, and watching our singers alongside those from PWS made the moment even more special. This year, we also had three PWS pupils perform solo, and their voices were angelic!
The charity I decided to support through this event was YoungMinds, the UK’s leading charity fighting for a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health. YoungMinds provides young people with the tools to look after their wellbeing, empowers adults to support them, and gives young people the confidence to make their voices heard, no matter their background. This mission felt especially fitting for Identity, seeing as the event is about celebrating who we are, creating a sense of belonging and ensuring that every young person feels seen, both values that sit at the heart of Identity and YoungMinds’ work.
I’d like to give special thanks to Mrs Watt, who believed in Identity from the very start. Without her, Identity would still be a distant idea. Thanks also to Mirabel, Elijah, Favour, Nellie, Faisal and all those who led Identity before me, each bringing their own twist to the event and inspiring both me and this year’s production. A huge thank you to Anne for leading the gospel choir with me and organising rehearsals in her now very busy schedule, and to Makayla, who helped me present all the pieces, despite me asking her at the very last minute! To everyone from PWS: thank you and well done! I hope this will be the start of many more collaborations between our schools. After all, we share the town, so we all form a part of its identity. Finally, thank you to everyone who performed. Your talent, courage, creativity and energy made the night unforgettable, both for myself and the audience.
