How it Began
The Notting Hill Carnival has been held every bank holiday since 1966 and has evolved to become the biggest street festival in Europe, and the biggest Carnival outside of Rio (in terms of spectators). Notting Hill Carnival was born of two separate but connected roots. Claudia Jones (to whom the Carnival Village in Notting Hill was dedicated) began in January 1959 and was celebrated in St Pancras Town Hall as a way for black people to celebrate in face of the Notting Hill Race Riots the previous year. Ms Jones was a Trinidadian campaigner who began her political life in the United States- she was a noted human rights campaigner and was deported from the United States- she was granted asylum in the UK (thank God) and after she witnessed the public outcru over the death of Kelso Cochrane, she began focusing on ways to celebrate our culture and the first indoor Carnival was a huge success. At around the same time, Rhaune Laslett began an outdoor festival known as the London Free School Festival to promote cultural unity. She featured a steel band and so the very first Carnival as we know it today was an attempt to showcase the steel band musicians who played in the Earls Court of London every Weekend. When the bands paraded through the streets of Notting Hill, they drew black residents out on to the streets, reminding them of the Caribbean homes they had left behind.
This year's Carnival will be held on the 29 and 30 of August 2010.
De Carnival De Bacchanal
Although most people see the pretty mas side of Carnival, the NHC is traditionally made up of four components- Mas, Steel, Kaiso and Static Sound.
Kaiso Kaiso? Yes Kaiso
The Kaiso aspect of Notting Hill (which would not be neglected in this blog) is run by the Association of British Calypsonians. The Tent is now based at Carnival Village, Notting Hill in a venue that is also known as The Tabernacle. I call it The Tabby ;). It is a divine venue with a ground floor bar and basement and superior sound and stage. For five weeks, every Friday night, the Calypsonians perform a song from their repertoire (usually one social commentary and one groovy tune). There are about 18 calypsonians from all the different islands who sing on a regular basis. In 2009 the tunes ranged from "Passport Love" to "Jail Dem" and "Kelso Cochrane". The Tent also usually features the TNT Junior Calypso Monarch from that year and a featured artist. It is a great lime- there is usually roti and pholouri on sale and rum to make this into a "bess lime". It all culminates with the Groovy Monarch Competition and the Kaiso Monarch Competition. Last year Akima Paul picked up the Calypso Monarch and last year's Monarch Brown Sugar took home the Groovy Title.
Steel- Oil and Music!
(Pic courtesy globalvoicesonline.com)
Nothing can reflect Carnival better than the sound of Steel and oh yes we will be also focusing on the sweet sweet sounds of pan music . Panorama takes place on the Saturday night (this year on the 27th) and these bands in the UK can rival any Trini band for their money. Mangrove, Ebony and Metronomes are some of the big ones but there are lots of other contenders including bands from Croydon. Lots of local composers like Leroy Clarke and Kyran Akal are noted for their stunning arrangements.
Static Sound
(Pic courtesy bbc.co.uk)
I must say that this to me is not the essence of Carnival- deejays but now all yuh young people eh? Anyway Static Sounds (aka djs) are usually strategically positioned around different liming spots on Carnival Day. If you are a spectator, this builds the ambiance as you are able to pick up a plate of curry goat or jerk chicken and rice and walk with your rum and witness the spectacle as they pass. Lots of static sounds play a wide variety of music so its not just soca- be prepared for lots of reggae, dub, some rnb and rap and lots of house music!
Mas in yuh Mas
(Pic courtesy IsisMas)
Carnival Sunday begins with Jourvert in Ladbroke Grove. It is certainly not the jourvert experience that we know at home as it is a very small minority of persons who actually come out at daybreak and they are usually concentrated in the Ladbroke Grove area. Powder, mud and paint plus oil (Grenadian massive!!!). Sunday is also Kids’ Day, but for adults it is also T Shirt Day. Most bands have a Tshirt section and on the Sunday after breakfast, the bands roll on the road with t-shirts and paint, t-shirts and mud, t-shirts and chocolate. The vibe kicks in from about 9 onwards and follows the parade route beginning on Great Western Road, winding its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. The parade is certainly kid friendly until at about 6 pm- that's when most adults would have infiltrated the band and the atmosphere becomes like a fete. It's a great precursor to the main day.
On Carnival Monday most bands meet near Great Western Road at about 7 am. That's the day when over 1 million visitors come into London so spectators and participants need to get there early. The vibe starts of slowly but from midday it becomes jamish.
A big part of the vibe is the residents participation: they fill the streets and their balconies and hang flags out and its literally a kaleidoscope of colours- masqueraders in their finery palancing and locals dancing to the sounds of music. Lots of police man the parade so it is fairly safe. The parade suffered its fair share of violence/riots over the years but this should not be overstated as I have seen the parade go up until 10 pm at night :) without any major incidents and alcohol is drank in copious quantities (no ban like TO and New York!) so once you don't make no confusion, given the circumstances I would say it is fairly safe. Most countries have their corners (Trinidad Corner, St Lucia Corner, Grenada Corner) so the bands would catch a stink when they reach those areas. The day begins to wind down at about 9 pm (it is usually still light then). Most people (like me!) continue partying at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.
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