Ujima Radio, the Bristol-based urban music station, has launched a website celebrating the social history and cultural contribution of Bristol’s Caribbean community.
Dubplate to Dubstep is the result of a successful three-part heritage media project involving a team of Bristol inner city local young people working with Ujima.
Financed by the Heritage lottery Fund, Dubplate to Dubstep covers 50 years of social history and music trends, beginning with the first generation Jamaican immigrants arriving in Bristol in the 50s and 60s. 
It explores how the hostility and colour bars faced by St Paul’s Caribbean community led to the creation of vibrant live music venues and cultural events. St Paul’s Festival (now St Paul's Carnival), founded in 1957, was followed by the launch of the infamous Bamboo Club in 1966, which played host to reggae greats such as Gregory Isaacs, Desmond Decker and, in 1977, Bob Marley. The contribution of Bristol’s Caribbean community in shaping music trends is also celebrated.
Pictured: Members of the Dubplate to Dubstep team with DJ Derek, centre, and Edson Burton, second right
With classic black and white archive photographs by Pete Webb, Beezer, Adrian Boot of Urban image TV and Bristol Records Office, the website successfully documents the 50 years of music and culture in Bristol and the UK. Among partners in the project were M Shed and Watershed and Dr Edson Burton helped the team research black history in Bristol.
The team created a heritage resource that ensures not only that Bristol’s Caribbean community is recognised for its valuable cultural contribution to the city, but that personal stories from this 50-year period are archived for future generations.
Just as importantly, the project trained the team in all aspects of professional media, resulting in members getting work in producer, presenter and researcher roles at Ujima, 8th Sense Media and BBC Bristol.
One of the team, Shana Rose, 19, is now working at BBC Bristol. She said: “This project gave me a chance to show my passion and interest in media and fed me with important knowledge and skills I now use in my day to day job.”
Ujima Radio chair Roger Griffith said: “Dubplate to Dubstep has been an extraordinary innovative project that enabled a diverse selection of young, talented inner city residents to explore their musical heritage and ultimately to secure some exciting opportunities at the BBC and other media outlets.”
Through a short documentary, drama and radio shows the project tells the important story of how Jamaican culture and music in Britain have impacted on popular British culture.
It traces the journey of the original ‘dub plate’ bass line recordings from Jamaica to Britain, confirming reggae music as the absolute founder of subsequent dub music genres right up to most recent dubstep movement.
Short films, interviews and radio shows produced by the youth team feature many Bristol legends starting with 60s pioneer DJ Derek, 70s and 80s reggae greats Talisman and Black Roots, 80s early trip hop and drum ‘n bass founders Ray Mighty (Smith & Mighty), DJ Krust (Fresh 4) and Peter D Rose (Wild Bunch & Massive Attack).
It then leads to the more recent Bristol talent such as grime-influenced Buggsy and dubstep producer Wedge. The full Dubplate to Dubstep documentary has commentary by ex-Steel Pulse band member Mykaell Riley, now programme director of the Black British Music Research Unit.
As a social enterprise in its fifth year of broadcasting, Ujima has provided training and development opportunities in media for more than 250 volunteers and young people across Bristol.
Partners on the Project:
Watershed, M-Shed, Bristol Records Office, 2morrow2day!, 8th Sense Media, Firstborn Creatives
Project Manager: Caroline Oldland.
Trainers and Mentors: Kevin Philemon, Roger Griffith, Rob Mitchell, Mike Jenkins.
History: Dr Edson Burton, Mykaell Riley, Roger Griffith
Website Designer: Gavin Wilshen
Project Branding: Oscar Rayner at Fine line Designs
