Such a diverse population adds to our city’s strength

Dr Vishalakshi Roy, a member of the Community Engagement group supporting the UK City of Culture bid and a Research Fellow at Warwick Business School, says Coventry’s diversity - from its wide ethnic origins to its student influx - makes it so special

THE cultural heritage of the people of Coventry forms a unique and vibrant tapestry of ethnic origins and identities.

Very few cities in the country can boast of a more diverse mix of people, because what is special about Coventry’s population, is the diversity of its diversity.

Be it Tamil, Afghan, Somalian, Indonesian, Polish or Indian, Coventry has, through the ages, invited and provided a home for all of these communities and more.

Coventry’s non-white population of the city stands at around 33 per cent, and this is made up of individuals from numerous nationalities, religions and ethnic origins.

While a sizable number of people in Coventry are from newly arrived communities, the diversity originates from generations of foreigners coming to the city primarily for trade and commerce.

Some of the established communities, such as the sizable Indian Sikh population (five per cent of the overall population), have contributed greatly to the cultural identity of the city and how it’s seen by the rest of the world.

People from other countries continue to get a warm welcome, as demonstrated last year when Coventry welcomed more Syrian refugees than any other city in England.

The diversity of Coventry is further enhanced by its sizable student population, many of whom come from all over the world to study at the two universities based here. These 30,000-plus temporary residents of Coventry also contribute greatly to the rich cultural landscape of the place they call home during their studies.

As a city that is so diverse, Coventry takes pride in showcasing and celebrating the heritage of its population though festivals and events.

Every year Coventry plays hosts to event such as the Embracing Africa Festival, The Vaisakhi Parade and The Positive Images Festival which jointly draw crowds of well over 40,000 people.

In addition to festivals and events, the city celebrates the culture and identity of its diverse communities though regular activities for young and old. This includes Irish dancing schools, training multiple national and international champions in this genre; Dhol and African drumming classes and Indian classical music schools.

Whether staying temporarily or for a while, what makes the experience of diverse individuals coming to Coventry unique is the ease with which they co-exist, practice their culture and religion, and go about their lives.

Over the centuries, such seamless blend of cultures and mutual understanding has stemmed from the city’s ability to provide a peaceful environment and an open embrace to all that come to its door.

We believe that the diversity of the city is not just a feature of Coventry’s population, it is in fact its core strength.

As a city that is so diverse, Coventry takes pride in showcasing and celebrating the heritage of its population.