A unique two-day cultural programme designed specifically for the Malayali community across the United Kingdom successfully drew to a close last month. FOMO Connect 2025 was held at the YHA National Forest in Derby, bringing together adult participants from numerous cities for a deep, shared exploration of their heritage and experiences.
More Than an Event: A Participatory Cultural Experience
Curated and produced by cultural practitioner Shijas Kunnathodiyil, the programme was intentionally structured as a participatory cultural experience, not merely a social gathering. It focused on accessible forms of expression to delve into themes of migration, identity, belonging, and emotional wellbeing.
Over the course of the weekend, attendees engaged in live music jam sessions led by UK-based Malayali musicians, where the traditional divide between stage and audience was removed. Open mic sessions provided a platform for personal storytelling, poetry, and spoken word. Moderated group discussions, termed talkathons, addressed the realities of living and working in Britain, cultural adaptation, and building community resilience.
Shared Meals as Cultural Ritual
A cornerstone of the event was the role of food. Traditional Kerala cuisine was presented not just as hospitality but as a vital shared cultural ritual. These communal meals were designed to reinforce memory, cultural continuity, and collective identity, serving as catalysts for conversation and connection among participants from diverse regions and professional backgrounds.
People travelled from cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Coventry, Glasgow, and Cardiff. Many described FOMO Connect as a rare chance to engage creatively with others who share similar migration journeys, outside of formal institutional or festival settings.
Building a Grassroots Cultural Movement
According to curator Shijas Kunnathodiyil, the core intention was to create a space where culture is collectively experienced rather than passively watched. He emphasised that for diaspora communities, culture lives in shared memories, everyday conversations, music, and practices—a reality the programme aimed to reflect.
FOMO Connect 2025 builds upon a series of community arts initiatives Kunnathodiyil has curated since 2022, such as Mallu Strangers Night and Mallu Camp Onam. These programmes have progressively evolved into structured participatory cultural practices within the UK diaspora context.
The success of this latest event underscores the growing significance of community-led arts initiatives in supporting cultural expression, fostering connection, and promoting wellbeing among migrant communities across the UK. As demand for inclusive cultural practice rises, grassroots programmes like FOMO Connect demonstrate how community leadership can enrich the wider British cultural landscape.
