A BRADFORD man has sent a special message to the city he loves in a new song.
Zeb Iqbal is highlighting the beauty of Bradford’s multicultural heritage in a song dedicated to his late father, who arrived in the UK in the 1960s and helped lay the foundations for the future generations of his family.
The song, titled City of Culture 2025, is a stirring tribute to the hard work and sacrifice made by immigrants who helped shape Bradford into the city it is today.
“Your sacrifice, sleeping on a factory floor, away from your family, in a distant land,” he sings in one verse, capturing the journey of those who came with little but gave everything.
@zebiqbal786 Bradford City of Culture 2025 song by Zeb Iqbal. #bradfordmusic #bradfordcityofculture2025 #cityofculture2025 #ukcity#bradfordcity #livemusic #fouryou#fyp #bradford #viral ♬ original sound - zeb iqbal
Zeb draws on his father’s story in a message that blends personal history with a broader sense of pride.
“My father arrived in the UK from Pakistan in 1968, leaving everything he had behind in search of a better life," he said.
“He knew there was a better future, and he was brave enough to take that step to make it happen."
Zeb said his father opened "one of Bradford’s earliest barber shops" in 1968 and added: "Despite suffering a heart attack later in life, he never let go of his dedication to work or community.
“He was advised not to work but continued anyway. If a nurse came to visit, he’d quickly get under the blanket and pretend he was resting.
“He passed away in 1995, but provided for a family of eight with quiet determination.”
The song also touches on gratitude: “Thank the Almighty for the opportunities we have in this country,” sings Zeb, now a qualified solicitor, describing how his father's courage and work ethic inspired his own life path.
“Bradford is full of people of all colours and backgrounds,” Zeb added.
“People are so hospitable. It’s time we celebrated that.”
He hopes the song will resonate with others, no matter where they or their families came from.
“It’s for everyone. If it was written 100 years ago, it could have been about those coming here then. This is a tribute to anyone who came here to build a better life.”
