NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL (with lovely company), part 3

MONDAY
It was down to sparklingone and me. If you ever have to go to Carnival for the first time, sparklingone is the one to be there with. She knows everything and she’s a guy magnet! Which was good, bad and sometimes funny!!
The theme of this year’s Carnival was Set All Free! commemorating the abolition of England’s legal involvement in the Atlantic Slave Trade.



Carnival, like so many aspects of African diaspora cultures is a complex product of various traditions. We anthropologists might use the word syncretism, or creolization, but no matter which you prefer traditions are rich and vibrant and very much alive in all of us around the world today. Notting Hill Carnival is comes to London from the Caribbean, mainly Trinidad and Tobago, tradition of Carnival. It still happens in varying ways throughout the Caribbean, in Rio de Janiero and New Orleans, where it is called Mardi Gras.

First we hit salsa corner on Portobello Road. Guy magnet in action!



London’s Fire Brigade is worth burning down your house too see. IMHO.


Then we were all over the place! In true Carnival tradition we followed the floats with music we liked. Whistles are required dress for Carnival. Actually they are the only required garb about Carnival.


There was a fantabulous!! samba group.



The big, loud sound systems get all the publicity, but the real heart of Carnival music is the traditional steel bands. There are still a few parading.


One of my course mates was there!


And much, much more. . .






No post of mine is complete without shoes. Carnival has an impressive group of women in spectacular heels and costumes dancing in the streets for hours and hours and hours.




But these (worn by a man) were possible the most creative addition to Carnival this year:


Hope you’ve enjoyed. Join us next time!