1WAY Life Is 4 Livin’: A Summer Celebration of London, Culture and Community

Anisha Oliver
7 minutes ago
2 min read

There’s something to be said for events that understand that a good time is about more than just who is on the line-up. 1WAY has built a reputation around creating spaces where music, culture and community can come together and Life Is 4 Livin’ Fest felt like a strong example of that. From the music and food to the atmosphere and the people in the crowd, the whole day was centred around one thing: enjoying yourself.

Held at Hainault Park on Saturday 15 August, the festival brought together a mix of live performances, DJs, food, rides and entertainment for a crowd that seemed to arrive with one objective, to have a good time. Music was of course, at the centre of everything. The festival kept a steady flow of live performances and DJs throughout the day, with Wande Coal, Shakes & Les, Kojo Funds and the Compozers among the names bringing Afrobeats, R&B, Amapiano, Caribbean sounds and nostalgic favourites to the stage. Wande Coal also brought Tiwa Savage out as a special guest, adding another standout moment to an already packed line-up. Wande Coal was one of the major draws, with plenty of anticipation building in the days leading up to his appearance. With Iskaba still holding its place as one of those songs that can instantly shift the energy in a room, his appearance tapped into that familiar feeling of hearing a record that everyone knows. There was a reason the "Nobody be like Wande" sentiment had been circulating ahead of the festival.

Credit: @Jahnaytennai

Credit: @genfit.jpg

London is home to so many different communities, backgrounds and influences that events centred around diaspora culture can become an important part of the city's social life. Festivals like this create an opportunity for people to meet in the same space, share food, listen to music they grew up with and discover something from another culture. The food offering reflected that. Jamaican and Ghanaian options were among the cultural choices available, giving the festival another layer beyond the stage.

Credit: @alexandra.badmus

Another thing that stood out was how smoothly the festival came together. There was a lot happening across the site, from performances and DJ sets to food, rides and the wider entertainment. There was clearly a lot of planning behind the scenes to make the different elements work together without taking away from the atmosphere. Life Is 4 Livin’ Fest ultimately worked because it understood something quite simple: people want somewhere to come together. In a city as culturally diverse as London, those spaces matter. 1WAY is contributing to that landscape by continuing to create events where different parts of the diaspora can meet, celebrate and most importantly, have a genuinely good time.

Credit: @Jahnaytennai

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