Sophia Newton Celebrates Fathers and Advocates for Men’s Mental Health Through Urhobo Dance at UPU U.K. Father’s Day Celebration

By Victor Ayokunle

Sophia Newton delivered a moving performance at the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) UK Father’s Day celebration held on June 15, 2025, at the All Saints Community Centre in London. The event, themed “Mortgages and Insurance,” brought together members of the Urhobo community to celebrate fatherhood while addressing the financial and emotional responsibilities that come with it.

Newton’s appearance stood out as one of the day’s most memorable highlights. Her performance, a traditional Urhobo dance piece, blended art and advocacy to spotlight men’s mental health and emotional well-being. Each movement was deliberate, reflecting strength, vulnerability, and the unspoken pressures men often carry within family and society.

Audience members responded with visible emotion, applauding her message and authenticity. Many later described the performance as both “powerful” and “healing,” noting how it offered a rare, open space for discussing the emotional challenges men face. Newton’s focus on empathy and awareness resonated deeply across generations, giving the cultural celebration a broader, more human dimension.

In interviews following the event, Newton explained that her choice of Urhobo dance was intentional; a way to root mental health awareness within cultural identity. “Our traditions already hold the language of healing,” she said. “Through dance, I wanted to remind people that expressing emotion isn’t a weakness. It’s connection.”

Her performance coincided with renewed discussions around men’s mental health within diaspora communities, particularly among African families navigating cultural expectations abroad. By situating her message in a traditional art form, Newton bridged generational and emotional gaps, encouraging open dialogue in a setting that rarely hosts such conversations.

UPU UK President Chief Peter Ugbesia praised Newton’s contribution, describing it as “a performance that gave meaning to the celebration.” He emphasized that beyond the day’s financial theme, the event aimed to honour fathers not just as providers but as individuals deserving of understanding and care.

The Father’s Day celebration also featured speeches, musical performances, and community networking sessions, but Newton’s segment lingered long after the event ended. Her ability to merge artistry with advocacy demonstrated how cultural expression can play a vital role in reshaping conversations about mental health, especially among men who often feel excluded from such discussions.

By closing the performance on a reflective note, Newton left the audience with a lasting impression, one that reinforced the idea that strength and vulnerability can coexist. She once again demonstrated how movement can celebrate culture, uplift communities and spark meaningful conversations about emotional well-being.