Nottinghill Carnival is an annual celebration of Caribbean culture that takes place over a 2 day period each year. The celebrations are held in London during the August bank holiday weekend and consists of many elements including jouverts, parades and food stalls that pay homage to flavourful Caribbean cuisine. With 2016 marking the 50th anniversary of Nottinghill Carnival, the streets were packed with over 2 million feters and spectators alike, including some of our very own CCUK members.
From the streets you can watch as the many floats make their way down their route, followed by people playing mas, dancing and proudly representing their island with colours, flags and pride, just as we would back home in Cayman. The atmosphere was joyous with constant soca and reggae playing in the foreground as spectators followed the parade, many even joined in as it proceeded down the 3.5 mile route. It’s amazing to see how the Caribbean diaspora in the UK has maintained their culture and heritage as the Carnival boasts more similarities than differences to those back home.
Holding the title of being Europe’s largest street party, Nottinghill Carnival is an array of music, colours and culture. People from all over the world come to partake in the celebrations, whether to bask in and promote Caribbean culture, or just in order to spend a fun and eventful weekend with friends. Over the last 50 years Nottinghill Carnival has proven to be among many things, a place of social solidarity.
