Edited by : Brian Callan, Pearson Nkhoma and Naomi Thompson
The conversations surrounding the complexities of immigration in the UK and across parts of Europe have long been at the forefront of global political discourse. Yet, it remains essential to understand how mixed migratory patterns complicate our perception of mobility, particularly within the framework of UK immigration law and policy, which has often fostered a ‘hostile environment’ for those in movement. This context calls for a closer examination of the causes and consequences of forced displacement. Why do people leave their countries of origin? Is it solely war or conflict that drives them to flee their homelands, or are there deeper socio-political and economic forces at play? These are some of the central themes explored in the recently published literature Critical Research and Creative Practice with Migrant and Refugee Communities.
Critical Research and Creative Practice with Migrant and Refugee Communities
You can order the book from Amazon or access it online through Bristol University Press Digital.
Co-edited by Brian Callan, Pearson Nkhoma and Naomi Thompson, along with other contributors, this collection brings together the voices and lived experiences of refugees, activists, researchers and professional practitioners. It gives visibility to those who have fled persecution and displacement, weaving narratives into broder discussion of research, policy, sense of belogningness and representation. The contributors collectively unpack the complex nature of migration patterns across borders and further explores how expressive arts and creative methods illuminate the refugee experiences. This work is a compelling intersection between critical scholarship and creative intervention – one that challenges conventional frameworks to mitigate the ‘emerging refugee crisis’ and invites empathy and compassion.
Structured into three sections — Critical Research, Crucial Voices, and Creative Practice — the book moves fluidly between analytical insight and human story. It revisits the concepts of “home” and “homeland,” asking what these words truly mean to those whose sense of belonging has been fractured by displacement. It also interrogates the very act of categorising migration and the creation of hierarchies among those who move. Drawing from original research and personal testimonies often overlooked in traditional surveys, the book offers a deeply interdisciplinary perspective. Through community-based engagement, therapeutic creativity, and artistic expression, it demonstrates how collaborative practice can reshape the way we think about migration.
The book was published on 17 July 2025 and officially launched on 21 October 2025 at Goldsmiths, University of London.
This Book Launch Event was Hosted by Goldsmiths, University of London
Tuesday, 21st October 2025 18:00 – 21:00
Before the formal opening, the evening began with speeches and a short musical performance by Ms. Veronica Doubleday and Prof. John Baily. Both Baily and Doubleday are distinguished academics and ethnomusicologists renowned for their extensive work documenting Afghan music and culture. Having spent time in Herat, Afghanistan, their fieldwork has long captured the depth and diversity of Afghan musical traditions. Doubleday’s research, in particular, has centered on the voices and experiences of Afghan women, making gender a central theme in the field of ethnomusicology.
At the launch, they performed a series of folk songs in the Persian language. As Veronica Doubleday sang, John Baily accompanied her on the rubab, their harmonies evoking the pain of displacement and the deep longing for home. The performance was not merely an opening act but a poignant reminder of the homeland. These songs were emotional evocations of memories of Afghanistan, emphasizing its geography, culture, heritage, and a deep sense of longing for the homeland. It conjured a sense of nostalgia and reflected on the pain of migration and displacement of people from their homes.
The melody of Doubleday’s voice intertwines with the resonant tones of the Afghan rubab—a complex and sophisticated musical instrument consisting of three main strings, long drone strings, and sympathetic strings on the side. The notes seemed to echo stories of loss, longing, and resilience. For many Afghans and Persians in the room, the performance stirred memories of childhood and of places left behind, transforming the hall into a space of shared emotion and remembrance. The performance was not merely an opening act; it set the tone for the evening by embodying the book’s central themes—the memory of home, the anguish of exile, and the enduring strength of cultural identity.
Following the performance, Ms. Rabia Nasimi, one of the contributors and co-authors of the book, took the stage to share a few thoughts and read excerpts from her chapter. In her contribution, she reveals the constant pressures and unique experiences faced by second-generation migrants in the UK. Introducing her own lived experience, she reflects, “I came to the UK as a child at the age of five. Born in Ukraine but raised in London. And to this day, I am not quite sure where I fall in this migration-generation system,” she notes. Through her personal story, she portrays how the migrant experience often shapes one’s sense of “home.” During the reading, she reminded the audience of the ongoing arrivals of refugees in the UK and the significance of the increasing number of Afghan migrants settling in London since the fall of Kabul in 2021.
Her reflections highlight the importance of understanding what second-generation migrants witness in a host country. In her writing, she notes the need to compare the experiences of first-generation and second-generation migrants. Second-generation migrants often face continuous pressure: they are either perceived as living in exile or expected to make the host country the center of their lives. Thus, what home means for a person who experiences migration may be multidimensional. Ms. Rabia Nasimi illustrates that home can be both a spatial location and an emotional experience, one that varies profoundly for refugees.
As a second-generation Afghan living in London, her voice represents the stories of many who have had experiences of migration and whose sense of home has been shaped by it. “This research comes to show that there are no perfect categories for experiences like mine and no theoretical boxes that fully explain what it means to grow up with two cultures,” she shared. Through the discourse she described a shifting sense of positionality and the feeling of being both an insider and an outsider – identifying herself as both Afghan and British. Drawing on her bilingual fluency in English and Farsi, she explained how language allows her to explore and negotiate her identity. Nevertheless, her conversation invites all those who have and not had experienced migration to consider a simple, yet profound question: “What does home mean to you?”
Following Nasimi’s reflections, Dr. Naomi Thompson took the stage to introduce the Department of Social, Therapeutic, and Community Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. She explained that the department integrates therapeutic and social intervention perspectives within its research, teaching, and community engagement, offering modules at both graduate and postgraduate levels. This approach, she noted, mirrors the ethos of the book, which blends critical inquiry with creative, practice-based research. Thompson highlighted how such interdisciplinary methods allow for deeper engagement with lived experiences, particularly in exploring women’s narratives and positionality. Her remarks served as a reflection of academic commitment to socially engaged scholarship, emphasizing the connection between research, creativity, and meaningful community impact.
From the personal narratives to the collective, the evening then turned toward how creativity can foster a sense of belongingness within migrant communities. The concluding event was presented by Clari Burrell and Marika Cohen as they represented “Moving Space,” a creative movement and expressive intervention supporting refugees and migrants. The project aimed to create a weekly creative art and movement group, with a particular focus on fostering interaction among women migrants. This project is specially designed for female asylum seekers who live in temporary protections.
The weekly group began in 2018 but was temporarily paused due to the pandemic but has since resumed and continues to run. Operating in partnership with psychotherapy—not in a clinical frame, but within a creative and supportive space—the group provides an open setting for participants to move, create, and interact. Meetings are held in temporary or rented spaces, including church halls, with most sessions in enclosed settings to facilitate focused interaction. The creative practice aims to “stabilize practice” by bringing people together in a consistent yet flexible environment.
One of the most interesting aspects of the group is its diversity: participants speak different languages and come from various backgrounds. Gestural communication and creative activities often act as a bridge between participants, enabling understanding despite language barriers. Through art, movement, and shared creative exercises, the group nurtures social connections, self-care, and resilience. Its structure is temporary and flexible spaces combined with consistent weekly interaction, demonstrating how creative practice can foster both community and personal empowerment among migrants.
During the event, audience members were invited to join an expressive art activity. In one exercise, they stretched and intertwined a large cloth, creating shared patterns and reflecting on what they represented. Another activity asked participants to place small globes on a floor map to mark their countries of origin. These simple acts fostered connection and storytelling through movement and symbol. Such practices form a key component of the Moving Space art movement.. This environment, however, also created a special connection between migrants from different ethnicities, fostering self-care, trust, and mutual support.
The book launch also witnessed the presence of many of its contributors. Through its structure of research, voices, and practice, the book is not only a record of patterns of displacement but also a powerful testimony that uplifts lived realities often unheard and overlooked. Each contribution underscores that migration is not merely a movement across borders, but a cultural journey of rebuilding identity and belonging. When research is combined with creative intervention, it holds the power to empower communities, strengthen visibility, and illuminate resilience.
By Cherin Geevarghese
Legal Intern, Afghanistan and Central Asian Association.