With a year past since the eruption of the Windrush scandal, the government’s aggressive, unfair and illogical approach to immigration and citizenship shows no signs of improvement. One of the latest victims of these policies is London-based Afro-jazz singer Bumi Thomas. On June 7 2019, she was given notice that she must leave the country voluntarily by June 21 or face detention and deportation.
Thomas was born in Glasgow to Nigerian parents, who relocated to Kano, Nigeria when she was three. She moved back to the UK as soon as she could – when she got her passport at the age of 18 – and went on to study fine arts at Bath Spa University before moving to London to pursue her successful music career. Her style is based around jazz, but she brings in elements from soul, folk and many African styles too; her career has seen her work with musicians such as Tony Allen, Nneka, Muntu Valdo and Keziah Jones.
Thomas’ deportation notice comes after a decade-long legal battle for her indefinite right to remain – which was denied. The problem arose from the fact that she was born just months after Margaret Thatcher’s government revoked the UK’s birthright citizenship; parents instead had to apply for citizenship for their children. As Thomas’ older sister received dual citizenship, her parents didn’t realise the law had changed. The situation is being seen as a continuation of the ‘hostile environment’ policies enacted by Theresa May as Home Secretary, which have continued throughout her premiership.
Luckily, the singer’s popularity has led to her case receiving a lot of attention in the press and on social media, and the #JusticeforBumi campaign is gathering momentum: a GoFundMe page set up to help cover Thomas’ legal costs has smashed targets, and she has been invited to the House of Lords to discuss her case as well as the wider issues surrounding it. It should be remembered that Thomas’ case gained visibility due to her public profile; there are many people in the same situation that are fighting this system alone.
Thomas herself is taking positives from the struggle: “There is a surreal sense of displacement,” she says, “yet I have never felt more connected to the UK. I am tethered by my art and music, which enables me to heal, connect and make sense of my emotions. It has been a pretty traumatic ordeal, offset tremendously by the overflow of support, love, compassion and advocacy I’ve received from the London creative community, reaffirming my belief in the kindness of the human spirit.” On June 21, she officially filed the first stage of her appeal and, as of writing, is awaiting confirmation of a court date in which a final decision will be made. The thoughts and positive energy of all of us at Songlines are with Bumi in this turbulent time, and we hope her case can be resolved quickly and positively.
Photo: Bumi Thomas, by Ade 'Ásiko' Okelarin.