Notting hill carnival special 2016

September 2016

Special Carnival Edition Notting Hill Carnival 2016

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Editorial were Elimu, Mahogany, M2K. Too, UTOPIA Mas, Heritage, Soca Massive sailors, Calabash, Flamboyan Carnival Club and others demonstrated the true spirit of carnival. It was great to see this paradigm in carnival, and a welcome sight that some bands were going back to the roots of carnival. That said, beads-andbikini can exist at carnival, working in tandem and keeping an equilibrium that will sustain carnival for another fifty years.

Despite all the negativity perpetuated by the national press about Notting Hill Carnival, the event, once again turned out to be as spectacular as ever. The grey overcast skies on Sunday that threatened to dampen the celebrations, were short-lived.

And, it wasn’t long before Notting Hill was basking in the aura of true Caribbean bliss. Sequins, feathers, beads, chocolate, powder, paint and fabrics in hues of every shade brought sparkle while the rhythm of soca music pulsated the cosmopolitan dynamics of London.

We are often, quick to criticise the police at Notting Hill Carnival and I hold my hands up to that. However, as easily as I criticise, I give praise. I took time out this year to speak to a great number of police officers working to ensure carnival is safe and successful. Most of the officers I spoke to are seasoned carnival officers and are often eager to assist and promote a safe enjoyable carnival. However, if you come to carnival arena looking for, and to cause trouble, be prepared to feel the long arm of the law on your shoulders.

London Notting Hill Carnival saw a renewed impetus this year with many designers reverting to traditional style costumes, especially in the children’s category. It was one of the most spectacular years for children’s carnival, to the extent where, there was a significant increase in the number of children masqueraders.

Many of those attending the carnival had hoped for something much more spectacular to culminate the 3-year celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the biggest carnival in Europe. Sadly, the carnival fell short in that department, failing to deliver something with a bit more panache. Purple banners draped the security railings, devoid of any glimpse that Notting Hill carnival was celebrating 50 years on the streets of London.

David Kalloo

There were many positive aspects to 2016 carnival at Notting Hill. As mentioned before, the quality of children’s costume surpassed those of the last few years and, many of the adult bands had ditched the beads-and-bikini concept and went back to the drawing board to inject some originality to carnival. Some of the carnival bands that showed excellence

Cover photo by Tony Oldham

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Contents Editorial 50 Years of Notting Hill Carnival Carnival, an opportunity to promote unity in diversity What Carnival means to Me Metropolitan Police Statement on Carnival Crime Figures Trinidad Hill

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Production and concept: D.T. Kalloo

This special edition of Culturepulse was produced with the effort of Tony Oldham, Leela Ramdeen, Pax Nindi, Stephen Armstrong, Phil Rutale, Onike Joseph, Claire Shepherd Photographs by: Tony Oldham, Phil Rutale, Onike Joseph and Claire Shepherd, Otis Corbie and Monika Schaible Photography Culturepulse is designed and produced by Cashewmedia Ltd and published through the www.issuu.com platform.

Copyright 2016 Views and comments expressed by contributors are not necessary those of Culturepulse but of the author/s For all enquiries, please contact Culturepulse at 07738864335 Email: cashewmedialtd@gmail.com

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Pax Nindi on 50 years of NHC 50 years of Notting Hill Carnival for me, and where I am coming from means England tolerates our Afrikan and Caribbean cultures despite what people may say. It appears England is still happy to be a multi-cultured society otherwise, we would not still, be celebrating our cultures, heritage, emancipation and all that comes with this ever evolving cultural artform in Europe today. The Carnival itself has adopted what is around it, so much so, that we now see all different cultures taking part in Carnival without worrying or being put off that it started as a Caribbean affair with the black communities putting a stamp and claiming that we are here to stay having built for the Caucasians roads, castles and bridges etc.

I celebrate the 50 years with excitement when it comes to the diversity of London city but I also feel sad that we did not make the 50 years an unforgettable celebration. And, can also state that it was not only money that stopped us from the kind of celebration one would have hoped to see.

Whilst we keep losing our pioneers in the sector, I am also pleased to seeing some of our Carnival elders still coming and appearing in Carnival among the young people which adds to the excitement of being able to celebrate the 50 years as well as, still getting support (which is mainly in kind) from Carnival's stakeholders.

Pax Nindi FRSA Chief Executive Global Carnival Centre www.globalcarnivalcentre.com

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NOTTING HILL CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL 2016

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a celebration of Caribbean culture: the music, the costumes and the general spontaneity. The brazenness of the parade’s originators in 1964, marching proudly through the beleaguered streets that had seen race riots in 1958 and the death of Kelso Cochrane in 1959, shouldn’t be underestimated.

Carnival, an opportunity to promote unity in diversity Leela Ramdeen "The ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization" (Gandhi)

“Over the years, carnival has evolved from a protest against the blatant racism that my mother’s generation experienced to a showcase for the brilliantly diverse city that I know and love...In the intervening half a century, the Notting Hill slums and working-class black and white communities have been replaced by luxury townhouses and well-heeled residents.

Carnival’s organisers are left with an annual fight against the party being moved to a sanitised Hyde Park or stopped altogether.”

I thought of Gandhi's words after the recent Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) in London, Europe’s largest street festival. I was honoured once again to be one of the judges at the Carnival. Read about the history of NHC which started in 1964.

The 50th Anniversary of NHC was celebrated from 2014-2016 with the different aspects of carnival: masquerade, sound systems, steel bands, calypso and soca – amazing creativity and diverse artistic excellence – including that of my brother, Anil (Speedy) Ramdeen and his partner, Clary Salandy, who run Mahogany Carnival Design. What a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the diversity that exists in London and to promote unity among communities - both in the UK and globally, particularly as the event draws people from around the world.

There is always a need to review crowd control, crime and so on at such events. Commander Dave Musker, who was in charge of the policing operation at this year's event, has issued a press release in which he acknowledges that it is only “a small minority wishing to use the Carnival as a cover for committing crime.”

Over the 2 days of the NHC, sadly, 8 police officers were taken to hospital and 454 people were arrested for various crimes. Sixteen people were stabbed, including a 15year old boy who remains in hospital after being stabbed in his stomach.

Sadly, very little of the positives of NHC make the news. Maurice McLeod's article in the UK Guardian reflects the frustration that I and others feel. It is entitled: “Why is Notting Hill Carnival's success always measured by its crime levels?”

I do not have all the answers, but I am not sure that crime levels will be lowered if NHC is moved to a Park. I have noticed over the years that the number of youths attending the event has grown significantly. An analysis of the ages of those who are arrested, the nature of the crimes committed and so on, should inform the review of the NHC and assist in identifying strategies for change. I urge

Inter alia, he says: “No other event suffers this kind of biased media coverage...Carnival is one of London’s annual high points, attracting revellers from all over the world. Filling the streets of west London with up to 7,000 police officers costs around £7m, but this is dwarfed by the £93m the event generates for the capital...Carnival has always been 12

those who are conducting the review, that, while we all want to reduce crime at NHC and create a safe space for the 1-2 million people most of whom attend to enjoy themselves, let us pay serious attention to Harry Belafonte's calypso: “Don't stop the carnival”.

Like Trinidad and Tobago, Britain is irreversibly multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious. What a blessing! Let us use our energies to promote unity among those who live there. Pope Francis' words are apt: “Unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity. Unity in diversity is actually the opposite: it involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all…It means knowing how to listen, to accept differences, and having the freedom to think differently and express oneself with complete respect towards the other who is my brother or sister. Do not be afraid of differences!” (Address to Catholic Fraternity of the Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowship, Oct. 31, 2014) I am of the belief that often, it is fear of the "other", "the stranger" that leads some people to build enclaves and to shut out people. During this HolyYear of Mercy which the Catholic Church is celebrating, let us open our hearts to welcome the stranger.

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What does carnival mean to me?

What does carnival mean to me? It is a question that I have never been asked and so it is one, that I have never had to answer…until now.

I don’t know how or when that real intense love for carnival began to embed itself in me, however, I remembered when I was nine years old I stole 20 cents and went to Port of Spain with the sole intent of ‘pushing pan’- and push I did. I paid the consequences for it but it was worth the price paid.

Council grants, which many of them got generous funding for, yet produced mediocre costumes.

Mas camps lacked skilled and dedicated people to produce costumes and inherently these skills had to be met by working people who volunteered their time to keep the culture alive and keep that link with the homelands culturally embedded. Costume construction in many bands lay at the feet of the designer and anyone who could bend something, stick something and could use a pair of scissors and a glue gun.

Before I came to London, I always felt a pride and joy when I read in the local newspapers about Notting Hill Carnival and the likes of Claire Holder, Dexter Khan, Wayne Berkeley and Sonny Blacks promoting the culture of carnival but more significantly, the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

I was utterly disappointed when I went to my first Notting Hill Carnival back in 1990 and seeing the quality of the pieces from a number of bands.

Back then, I had no understanding of how ‘tings run’ here in London. Soon, I became involved with a carnival band and the I understood perfectly why costumes did not grab me as I had expected them to.

Most mas bands were dependent on Arts

Without any shadow of a doubt, you have to admire these people, from young kids to adults; they all got stuck in to produce their costumes for Notting Hill Carnival.

For me, carnival here in London was that connection with Port of Spain; pushing 17

that first pan through the city feeling like Goliath. For me carnival is that intermingling of ethnicity, embracing cultures and welcoming of rhythms. Gone are the days when we could sing Sparrow’s refrain, ‘carnival is a creole bacchanal’ and the same can be said for London. It is no longer a Trinidad carnival as, on any given Notting Hill carnival, you can expect to find at least one citizen from almost every country in the world ‘chipping’ down Ladbroke Grove.

How does 50 years of Notting Hill Carnival measure up? I can safely say, London mas bands boast highly skilled mas makers and designers today. No longer are they importing designers from Trinidad. Now they are harnessing the skills of the young diaspora and delivering quality and excellence to world standards.

Even London steel bands are on par with their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago with some rated in the top ten steel bands in the world.

Young people are competently engaged in the culture of carnival and year after year the commitment of these individuals and groups is evident on carnival days. Sadly, there are few of the pioneers of carnival left but it is rewarding to see that they are behind the younger generation pushing and guiding them to be the next driving force behind London Notting Hill carnival David Kalloo Cashewmedia Ltd

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"A number of things were done differently this year, including our response to assaults against police officers. Our revised method of recording incidents, Operation Hampshire, has resulted in closer attention being paid to officer welfare, and a higher level of support being provided.

Statement from police commander for Notting Hill Carnival 2016

"Under the new system we recorded 45 incidents of assault against a police officer, for varying degrees of minor injuries and eight officers' required anti-viral treatment at hospital as a result of being spat at. Of these 45 incidents, 25 assaults resulted in arrest.

Thousands of Londoners and visitors alike turned out to enjoy the sunshine and spectacle of Notting Hill Carnival 2016 over the bank holiday weekend.

"An anti-social behaviour dispersal zone was also introduced and 47 people were issued with dispersal notices, meaning they had to leave the area and not return within a specified period of time. "And we also trialled 'Facial Recognition Technology'. This was the first phase of a trial of the technology and while no individuals were identified by the equipment, the trial has resulted in positive learning to take forward to gain a full understanding of how it can best be used in future."

Commander Dave Musker, who was in charge of the policing operation at this year's event, said: "I am very proud of all the officers and staff who were deployed to Carnival this year. Once again they demonstrated their unwavering professionalism and bravery to ensure this spectacular celebration, that headlines the London event calendar, was not spoilt by a small minority wishing to use the Carnival a cover for committing crime.

A breakdown of the arrests is as follows:Assault on police - 25 Psychoactive substances (Nitrous Oxide) 38 Criminal Damage - 2 Public Order Act offences - 40 Offensive Weapon / Points & Blades - 90 Theft Going Equipped - 8 Drugs - 169 Sexual Offences - 13 Robbery - 1 GBH - 6 ABH / Common Assault - 17 Theft Person - 10 Drink Drive / Drug Drive - 3 Other - 32

"There were 15 reported violent injuries involving a knife or blade. Of these, two people suffered very serious injuries. Both victims are now stable conditions and in both cases arrests have been made and enquiries by officers continue.

"Whilst a total of 454 people were arrested at Carnival over Sunday and Monday, the highest number of arrests in more than a decade, there are contributing factors to this increase. The recent change in legislation around Psychoactive Drugs resulted in a high number of drug related arrests and high volume seizures, including Nitrous Oxide.

Total: 454.

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Trinidad Hill As a Trini abroad, there is nothing more heart-warming than seeing your flag, whether it’s on a car bumper, hanging from a window high above in the concrete jungle, draped on an office wall or adorning the fascia on some train station hoarding. However, to see your flag fluttering majestically on Trini Hill in London on carnival day fills one with great pride as you hear the sound of a pulsating steel band coming around the corner.

Tobago Crusoe, D Alberto, Ray Holman, Judy Boucher, Nestor Sullivan and international limer, Arnim Boucaud. All the big-name entertainers who visit London Notting Hill carnival pause, as a matter of duty and, pay tribute to ‘Trini Hill’ as a sea of red white and black flags are waved in the air and there and then you know they are. ‘Trini to de bone.’

Come carnival Monday at Notting Hill, that piece of green on Westbourne Park Road becomes sovereign property for Trinidadians and they guard it with as much reverence as they fly the flag. Three Trinidadians, Freddie Yearwood, Hermit Stephen and Sammy made the transition from Powis Square to the location back in 1989 and proclaimed it ‘Trinidad Hill.’

The trio are no longer seen on the ‘Hill’ and nowadays, carnival impresario, Sonny Blacks, is the self-appointed man charged with hoisting the flags into place, staking claim, just as carnival did, to a little piece of London, if only for a day.

The ‘Hill’ is where old friends connect and where new friendships are made as the resident Rhythm section ring out and some ‘ole time’ tunes belted out by anyone who could remember the words to the famous calypsoes as friends and well-wishers converge to drink ‘ah rum’ and eat ‘ah roti and some pelau’ and out of nowhere a bottle of ‘babash’ will appear. It’s here yuh find out who dead, who funeral is next week etc., etc.

The symbolism of the red white and black flag gracefully billowing in the breeze unites Trinis on carnival day. ‘Trini Hill’ has become the heartbeat of Trinis both visiting and, those who reside in London.

On carnival days you are sure to spot a famous Trini on the ‘Hill’ including the likes of; Anise Hadeed, Darcus Howe, 29

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CARNIVAL SUNDAY RESULTS

CARNIVAL SUNDAY RESULTS TRADITIONAL

TRADITIONAL

Inspiration Arts & Trinbago Carnival Club (Small) 1st 173pts

Voice of Mauritius (Small T 3rd Traditional) 1st 251pts

Jamboulay Carnival Arts Promotion. (Small) 2nd -169 pts

DUKA Mas Dominik (Small Traditional) 2nd 217 pts

Soca Massive Fancy Sailors (Small) 3rd - 153pts

People's World (Small Traditional) 3rd – 123

People's World (Small) 4th -121pts

Glorious Backstage Arts. (Small Traditional) 4th 120 pts

MODERN CONTEMPORARY

FLAGZ (Medium/Traditional) 1st

Sunshine International Arts. (Small) 1st- 272pts

MODERN CONTEMPORARY

Mangrove Mas (Small) 2nd- 164

Sunshine International Arts (Small) 1st – 223pts

Mahogany Carnival Club. (Medium) 1st 259 pts

Elimu Paddington Arts with Genesis (Small) 2nd 220pts

Kinetica Bloco. (Medium) 2nd – 167pts HISTORICAL

Dragons Cultural Arts Ltd (Small) 3rd -162 pts

Heritage Social Arts and Dance Group. (Small) 1st – 266pts

Mahogany Carnival Club. (Medium) -1st 292

Elimu Paddington Arts Club with Genesis (Small) 2nd – 258pts

SAMBA

Tropical Isles. (Small) 3rd – 222pts

London School of Samba

VYBZ Mas UK. (Small) 4th - 181

LARGE SAMBA / BRAZILIAN 2ND -238 pts

FUN FANTASY D-Riddim Tribe (Small) 1st - 240

Paraiso School of Samba. LARGE SAMBA / BRAZILIAN 3rd 197pts

Masquerade 2000 (Small) 2nd – 232pts

HISTORICAL

Burrokeets UK (Small) 3rd - 219

Flamingo Carnival Arts Ltd. (Small) 1st - 184pts

UCOM United Colours Of Mas (Small) 4th - 167

Calabash Carnival Club (Medium) 1st - 118

Batala. LARGE SAMBA / BRAZILIAN 1st 270

FUN FANTASY Flamboyan international Carnival Arts (Small) 1st -179pts Dynamic Mas (T-2016) Small) 2nd -178pts Saga Boys Mas Band. (Small) 3rd -176pts Masquerade 2000 (Small) 4th -145pts La Trinity Carnival Club. (Medium) 1st -123pts Cocoyea Carnival Club (Medium) 2nd - 89 pts UCOM United Colours of Mas Large) 1st -249pts 33

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2016 UK National Panorama RESULTS 1st Ebony Steel band (Cheers to Life), arranger Duvone Stewart. 278 points 2nd Mangrove Steel band (Different Me), arranger Andre White. 270 points 3rd Metronomes Steel Orchestra (Different Me), arranger Anise Hadeed 266 points 4th Real Steel (Nostalgia), arranger Leroy Clarke 260 points 5th Endurance Steel Orchestra (Different Me), arranger Marlon Hibbert 257.5 points 6th London All Stars (Soca Ruption), Phil ‘DBL’ Rollock 250 points 7th Croydon Steel Orchestra (Different Me), arranger David ‘Soj’Liaduola 239 points 8th CSI Steel Band Trust (Pan by Storm), arranger Brent Holder 238 points

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My Carnival…

I should start by saying that I am not Caribbean. In fact, my first perception of Carnival as a youth was not a good one and I simply saw it as a big street party.

Yet throughout the three years of the Notting Hill Carnival’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, I began the process of making a documentary about Carnival and my perception shifted significantly.

I had initially been drawn to Carnival because of its rich, if not dark, history; from its origins in European and African traditions, through to its evolution as a fully-fledged West Indian Carnival following the emancipation of slavery in Trinidad. The Notting Hill Carnival’s evolution similarly emerged from a darker place following the racial tensions of the

Like many researching Notting Hill Carnival for the first time, Claudia Jones is often referred to as the Mother of the UK Carnival, I had wanted to entitle the documentary ‘Genesis of Freedom’ as her first festival had taken place under the banner ‘A Peoples Art is the Genesis of their Freedom’. That phrase for me sums up what Carnival really is. Yet, a few years back, the historical perspective shifted as those first Caribbean festivals took place indoors away from Notting Hill.

1950’s, with Notting Hill itself at the centre of the UK’s black civil rights movement. Carnival has, it seems always played a key part in pushing for social and political change.

It was Rhaune Laslett who first bought an English Fayre type festival to Notting Hill in the 1960’s with a view to bringing a divided community together. When Russ Henderson took to the streets with his steelpan group, the foundations of Notting Hill Carnival had begun. Of course over the next decade, many would contribute and continue to grow the carnival into what is today one of the world’s largest street festivals.

I had of course been warned when starting to piece together the documentary, to concentrate on one area of Carnival, mainly because it’s a fairly complex subject. I was like most, drawn to the Mas, and initially knew nothing about Calypso or Steelpan. Yet as soon as I began filming these Art forms, I was drawn in pretty quickly.

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Perhaps importantly, whilst the Politicians try to ban Carnival, they should understand that it is the equivalent of trying to ban New Year Celebrations for the Scots, or Thanksgiving for Americans.

The beauty and spectacle of the Mas Bands, or the sounds of steel pan, pretty much pulls at your heartstrings. So my conclusion to ‘What is Carnival?’… well, it’s pretty much everything. As I continue to piece together what I believe to be the story of Notting Hill Carnival, I still continue to learn. I hope to complete the documentary later in 2017.

What is beautiful about Carnival is not just its celebration of heritage, or commemoration of history, but to me personally it’s the freedom it represents.

To the individuals who play Mas, or Steelpan, or sing Calypso, or listen to the music of the sound systems, Carnival is an opportunity to forget your everyday troubles and be lost in the moment. To many, to play Mas is liberation from the stress of everyday life, a chance to be free from the confines and repressions of normality.

Tony Oldham Filmmaker

Of course the British media has continued to demonise Carnival as a tool against black culture, perhaps forgetting that for the Carnival’s two million or so revellers, its crime stats are much lower than other key British festivals such as Glastonbury.

Notting Hill Carnival will unfortunately continue to be used as a political football.

The spirit of freedom and happiness that Carnival brings is ever present in the faces of those playing Mas. It is a cultural movement that most non-Caribbean British still fail to comprehend. In a Britain consumed by money culture, rules and regulations, we could all learn a thing or two about what Carnival truly represents. There is also a huge sense of community that unites Notting Hill’s community through the Carnival arts; this sense of togetherness is sadly missing elsewhere in contemporary British society.

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Join me at the Book Launch!

You are invited to join me at the Launch of the Revised Edition of my Self-help novel 'Journey of a Sister' (previously titled 'Single, Spiritual...AND Sexual!')

I'm really excited because there's going to be a big build-up to the launch, with lots of smaller events taking place during Black History Month, including the Triskele Lit Fest on Saturday 17th September, and The Phenomenal Woman Book Tour with Dr Ava Brown on22nd and 30th October (London & Birmingham). I'll also be speaking at the Natural November National Tour taking place on the 12th, 19th, and 22nd November (London, Birmingham and Manchester), visit my Events page of my website for details, which will be updated as new opportunities come in! I'll also be doing a Blog Tour in the first week of October, where you'll be able to read my articles on different websites over a whole week!

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Congratulations to London Notting Hill Carnival for delivering yet another successful carnival. Seldom do we understand the efforts that goes on behind the scenes to produce an event of this magnitude and, keeping over 1.5m people safe and happy. Congratulations also to the participants of carnival, for without you, surely carnival would not exist and to all the unseen cogs in the engine that make this event as spectacular as it is year after year - we salute you.

Culturepulse would like to express thanks to Leela Ramdeen, Pax Nindi, Tony Oldham, Phil Rutale, Otis Corbie, Claire Shepherd, Onike Joseph and Monika Schaible for your efforts, without your input this Carnival edition would not be possible.

Photography: Tony Oldham, Monika Schaible Photography, Phil Rutale, Otis Corbie, Onike Joseph

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