The sun shone as music, movement and solidarity spilled across the street of Govanhill on 10 August for the return of the Govanhill Street Music Festival. Our photographers were out capturing the colourful performances.

A moving open rehearsal at Glasgow’s Tramway offered audiences a glimpse into Ruh Al Ruh, a play by Gazan writer Rafat Al Aydi. Performed by local actors and directed by Finn den Hertog, the work explores love, survival, and artistic identity under siege – ahead of its Edinburgh debut as part of Welcome To The Fringe, Palestine.

Celebrate Govanhill’s creative community tomorrow at Glasgow Zine Library for the Practice Makes: Govanhill launch. This artist-led project showcases local initiatives through a unique publication-in-a-box, connecting and celebrating the area’s vibrant cultural scene.

Featuring a unicorn, Mothers Against Genocide, Latina dancers and trans rights activists, GIFC 25 started with a bang last Saturday with the carnival parade and festival in Govanhill Park. It has to be the most colourful day of the year, but there’s an important anti-racist message behind it all.

Sufi scholars and artists gathered to share wisdom, poetry and prayer at this year’s Sufi Festival. Sadia Sikander spoke to attendees and performers and we showcase a selection of galleries from our Greater Govanhill photography team.

The Govanhill International Festival & Carnival returns this August and we’ve got all the info about what’s happening this year, including with our Greater Govanhill storybooth event. Scroll down for the full programme.

The rise of far right influence has caused alarm to many in diverse communities like Govanhill and can risk undermining social cohesion, inclusion and harmony. In this opinion piece, published on World Refugee Day, Devon McCole explores what we can do to stop it and protect those most vulnerable.

From the salt shores of Lake Urmia to the streets of Govanhill, one resident shares their journey across continents. Along the way, they discovered unexpected joys in Glasgow’s most diverse neighbourhood – from familiar flavours to lasting friendships.

Greater Govanhill writers Sadia Sikander, Tabassum Niamat and Pinar Aksu took home both Winner and Runner Up at the Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards 2025 — a celebration of independent journalism and those “who make the change at the grassroots level”.

Arkbound Foundation ran a series of workshops at the Community Newsroom, attended by writers from across Glasgow. Over the course of six sessions, writers respond creatively to the cost of living crisis – through poetry, short stories, and reflective prose, highlighting the power of literature to document their experiences.

Hundreds of Muslim and BME women in Scotland are reporting abuse not from partners, but from in-laws and extended family, yet the law doesn’t recognise it. Amina MWRC is fighting to change that, shedding light on a hidden form of coercive control and pushing for a more inclusive, intersectional approach to domestic abuse policy.

In July 2024, people from the Roma community living in Govanhill were surveyed on their experiences with housing conditions and the local environment. The study found that basic human rights are not being supported when it comes to housing with the majority of those surveyed saying the conditions of their homes were poor.

Glaswegian poet and novelist, Shane Johnstone reflects on the ties between language and identity in Govanhill, tracing its evolution through Irish diaspora culture to today’s vibrant multilingual community. By exploring how migration shapes belonging while raising questions about preserving and celebrating the area’s rich linguistic diversity.

Sadia Sikander writes about the challenges she faces as a refugee in Scotland, from the emotional toll of societal hostility, systemic barriers, navigating unfamiliar systems and finding employment. Sikander also highlights the need to hold onto hope in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Balfour Reparations 2024-2044, a performance lecture by Farah Saleh, uses a mix of movement, spoken word, and participatory action to confront the UK’s colonial role in Palestine and explores our role in shaping a decolonial future.

In this issue of Roma News and Views, Aliana Michalewicz sits down with her mum Sonia to learn more about their fascinating, famous family history rooted in music and dance, how they brought this from Poland to Glasgow, and their hopes for the future.

کس طرح پرانی کیسٹس کی ایک بڑی تعداد پاکستانی تارکین وطن کی تاریخ اور زبانوں کی جانکاری کا ذریعہ بن گئی۔ ٹیپ لیٹرز پروجیکٹ کو بہت جلد گلاسگو،ایڈنبرا اور ڈنڈی میں ہونے والی نمائش میں پیش کیا جائے گاجس میں مقامی باسیوں کی کہانیاں دکھائیجائیں گی۔

How a bunch of old cassettes are a passage into the languages and histories of Pakistani migration. The Tape Letters project will soon be showcased in an exhibition in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee featuring stories of local residents.

In Govanhill, the heart of the community beats through its vibrant local businesses. From bustling corner shops to long-standing family-run stores, these shopkeepers not only provide essential services but also preserve the area's cultural heritage. In this article, we delve into the stories of Govanhill's shopkeepers, uncovering the histories, challenges, and triumphs that shape the daily life of this diverse and dynamic neighbourhood.

South Asian Heritage Month is a celebration of South Asian identities and cultures. This year’s theme, ‘Free to Be Me,’ prompted Sofia to reflect on her own complex sense of identity. Sofia shares her experience of growing up in Glasgow's South Asian community, struggling with her mixed-race background and the challenges of fitting into Scottish and Asian cultures.