Notting Hill CarnivalNotting Hill Carnival

Every August London Every August London is home to the great is home to the great Notting Hill Carnival – Notting Hill Carnival – the largest arts festival the largest arts festival in Europe and second in Europe and second largest carnival in the largest carnival in the world. It is a fantastic world. It is a fantastic event which is open to event which is open to everyone and is everyone and is absolutely free!absolutely free!

The Carnival has been The Carnival has been held on the last weekend held on the last weekend of August since 1966.of August since 1966.

HISTORYHISTORY

This great festival has its This great festival has its roots in the carnivals of the roots in the carnivals of the Caribbean, especially Caribbean, especially Trinidad.Trinidad.

In the 1800s, during the days In the 1800s, during the days of slavery and the British of slavery and the British Empire, many black slaves Empire, many black slaves were brought to Trinidad were brought to Trinidad from Africa. They worked from Africa. They worked on sugar plantation and on sugar plantation and their life was very hard.their life was very hard.

HISTORYHISTORY

Their white masters didn’t allow them to sing, Their white masters didn’t allow them to sing, dance or wear their national costumes. They dance or wear their national costumes. They were even forbidden to be in the streets after were even forbidden to be in the streets after dark. The only time the slaves were allowed to dark. The only time the slaves were allowed to play musical instruments was during the play musical instruments was during the imported European Carnival that was held six imported European Carnival that was held six weeks before Easter. But even then, black weeks before Easter. But even then, black people could only take part in it to entertain people could only take part in it to entertain their white masters.their white masters.

HISTORYHISTORY In 1833, when slavery was In 1833, when slavery was

abolished, the slaves abolished, the slaves stormed to the streets to stormed to the streets to celebrate their freedom. The celebrate their freedom. The slaves who had had cruel slaves who had had cruel masters made masks and masters made masks and costumes to make fun of costumes to make fun of them. It was their first real them. It was their first real opportunity to express their opportunity to express their feelings about slavery and feelings about slavery and they did it through dancing they did it through dancing and singing. and singing.

HISTORYHISTORY

Soon people from all Soon people from all over Trinidad started to over Trinidad started to take part in these take part in these street celebrations. street celebrations. They became experts They became experts in the art of costume in the art of costume making, steel making, steel drumming and calypso drumming and calypso ( a folk song telling a ( a folk song telling a story).story).

HISTORYHISTORY

In the 1950 – 60s many Trinidadians emigrated to In the 1950 – 60s many Trinidadians emigrated to Britain in the hope of getting job and making a Britain in the hope of getting job and making a home. They made good nurses, conductors and home. They made good nurses, conductors and drivers, but many of them were unemployed. Life drivers, but many of them were unemployed. Life was hard for them as there was a lot of racism was hard for them as there was a lot of racism and inequality. Besides, they missed the warmth and inequality. Besides, they missed the warmth and the blue skies of the Caribbean. On one day, and the blue skies of the Caribbean. On one day, remembering their great festivals back home, the remembering their great festivals back home, the Trinidadians decided to organise a street Trinidadians decided to organise a street procession in Notting Hill to boost their spirits.procession in Notting Hill to boost their spirits.

CARNIVAL TODAYCARNIVAL TODAY

From that small From that small procession through the procession through the streets with just a few streets with just a few people in costume people in costume laying music and laying music and dancing in the 1960s, a dancing in the 1960s, a huge multi-cultural arts huge multi-cultural arts festival has involved. festival has involved. Up to two million people Up to two million people attend it every year!attend it every year!

CARNIVAL TODAYCARNIVAL TODAY Today’s festival has many of Today’s festival has many of

the original elements of the the original elements of the Trinidad Carnival. The most Trinidad Carnival. The most popular of these are the popular of these are the costume parade, the calypso costume parade, the calypso and soca bands. Soca is a and soca bands. Soca is a more recent musical form and more recent musical form and it is very popular. It is a mixture it is very popular. It is a mixture of soul and calypso that has of soul and calypso that has been adapted by second, third been adapted by second, third and even fourth generation and even fourth generation Caribbeans. It is now the music Caribbeans. It is now the music of Notting Hill Carnival of Notting Hill Carnival

CARNIVAL TODAYCARNIVAL TODAY

Musicians and artists Musicians and artists from all over the from all over the world take part in the world take part in the Carnival. There have Carnival. There have been groups from as been groups from as far as Afghanistan, far as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil Bangladesh, Brazil and even Russia. and even Russia. Everybody is Everybody is welcome!welcome!

Although the Carnival aims to celebrate the cultural Although the Carnival aims to celebrate the cultural traditions of its founders, it’s open to all modern traditions of its founders, it’s open to all modern trends.trends.

CARNIVAL FOODCARNIVAL FOOD

The other thing that the Carnival is famous for its food. You The other thing that the Carnival is famous for its food. You can try out goat curry, fried bananas, coconut juice, and the can try out goat curry, fried bananas, coconut juice, and the legendary jerk chicken – with more hot spices than you have legendary jerk chicken – with more hot spices than you have ever thought possible.ever thought possible.

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL’S NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL’S MOTTOMOTTO

The motto of the The motto of the Notting Hill Notting Hill Carnival is Carnival is “Every “Every Spectator isSpectator is a a participant”participant”, , so tourists and so tourists and visitors are visitors are invited to join in invited to join in and dance.and dance.

POLICEMEN’S HARD WORKPOLICEMEN’S HARD WORK

There is only one group of people who don’t There is only one group of people who don’t enjoy the Carnival, and these are policemen. enjoy the Carnival, and these are policemen. For them, the Carnival is two days of very hard For them, the Carnival is two days of very hard work. With a busy event like that, safety of work. With a busy event like that, safety of participants is very important. Crowd control is participants is very important. Crowd control is a major concern. Things like providing enough a major concern. Things like providing enough toilets are also not to be overlooked! The toilets are also not to be overlooked! The Carnival is also a great place for pickpockets.Carnival is also a great place for pickpockets.

CARNIVAL CODECARNIVAL CODE

Enjoy!Enjoy!Enjoy Carnival – Jump and Enjoy Carnival – Jump and

ChillChillCome early, leave earlyCome early, leave earlyPlan your travel arrangements Plan your travel arrangements

but be flexiblebut be flexible

Be safe!Be safe!Tell the police if you see an Tell the police if you see an

incidentincidentStay with your friendsStay with your friendsLook out for your kids – it gets Look out for your kids – it gets

very crowded!very crowded!

Each year, the police Each year, the police issue the carnival Code, issue the carnival Code,

a set of rules which all a set of rules which all participants are advised participants are advised to follow.to follow.

CARNIVAL CODECARNIVAL CODE

Respect!Respect!Stay away if you plan to Stay away if you plan to

cause troublecause trouble

Respect others: don’t be the Respect others: don’t be the 1% that ruins carnivals for 1% that ruins carnivals for othersothers

Keep the neighbourhood Keep the neighbourhood cleanclean

Don’t turn people’s front Don’t turn people’s front gardens into public toiletsgardens into public toilets

MUSIC AT THE CARNIVALMUSIC AT THE CARNIVAL

The Caribbean The Caribbean people are naturally people are naturally musical. It was the musical. It was the Trinidadians who Trinidadians who invented the steel invented the steel band, one f the band, one f the most extraordinary most extraordinary musical inventions musical inventions ever made.ever made.

MUSIC AT THE CARNIVALMUSIC AT THE CARNIVAL

The rhythmical beating of drums goes way The rhythmical beating of drums goes way back to their ancestors in Africa. But in the back to their ancestors in Africa. But in the Caribbean steel drums can also accompany Caribbean steel drums can also accompany calypsos, a form of Caribbean folk song which calypsos, a form of Caribbean folk song which was first sung in Trinidad. Calypsos have a was first sung in Trinidad. Calypsos have a strong, simple rhythm. The words are strong, simple rhythm. The words are sometimes written down, but the best calypsos sometimes written down, but the best calypsos are invented by the singer as he goes along, are invented by the singer as he goes along, and they are usually about exciting events, and they are usually about exciting events, unpopular politicians, or love stories.unpopular politicians, or love stories.

CARIBBEAN ENGLISHCARIBBEAN ENGLISH

Many Caribbean immigrants speak very Many Caribbean immigrants speak very special English. Here is an example of special English. Here is an example of Caribbean English, from a poem by Caribbean English, from a poem by John John AgardAgard..

John AgardJohn Agard is a famous Caribbean is a famous Caribbean writer who now lives in London and does writer who now lives in London and does his best to promote a better his best to promote a better understanding of Caribbean culture.understanding of Caribbean culture.

Listen, Mr Oxford don!Listen, Mr Oxford don! Me not no Oxford donMe not no Oxford don

Me a simple immigrantMe a simple immigrant

From Clapham CommonFrom Clapham Common

I didn’t graduateI didn’t graduate

I immigrate.I immigrate.

But listen Mr Oxford donBut listen Mr Oxford don

I’m a man on de runI’m a man on de run

And a man on de runAnd a man on de run

Is a dangerous one. Is a dangerous one.

Listen, Mr Oxford don!Listen, Mr Oxford don!

I ent have no gunI ent have no gun I ent have no knifeI ent have no knife But mugging de But mugging de

Queen’s EnglishQueen’s English is the story of my life.is the story of my life.

I don’t need no axeI don’t need no axe To split up yu syntaxTo split up yu syntax I don’t need no hammerI don’t need no hammer To mash up yu To mash up yu

grammer.grammer.