Carnival ≠ 'Carni'

I first publicly questioned the state and direction of the esteemed, and personally greatly loved Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) in 2024 when I was an ambassador for The Black Curriculum. In this article written when I was 21 years old was purely emotive written with a turn-around time I had not experienced in so long. Even reading it back, I am thinking girl? So much I could have expanded on besides an attitude of complain and critique.

I still sarcastically question 'What is the C in Carnival for?' however I moreso position this to myself, my peers, and the wider community. I feel and fear we are responsible for what we understand the present state of peoples beloved 'carni' to be. I am used to being considered melodramatic so I am happy to make the claim that the seemingly fun abbreviation of Carnival to 'carni' actually represents the wider abbreviation of culture being reduced and removed from Carnival.

With less complaining (I hope), this piece is just as emotive as the one I wrote in 2024. You may ask why but I don't feel that I can remove emotions from culture. Culture is our livelihood and livity. Without it, we are literally nothing.

• 

• 

• 

If you are looking for a research article looking into Notting Hill Carnival from its birth in 1966 to present day, investigating the presence and maintenance of Carnival's disciplines "Mas, Steel Pan, Calypso, Soca, and SoundSystems" (basseline.org.uk) then I fear you are in the wrong place. Maybe I will return to address these topics on a more scholarly level, right now I am the little girl chasing after the shadow of what she understood to be as Carnival - more than highlight of my summer like many posit NHC as but rather a continous theme from childhood into young adulthood.

Carnival is all I have known. As a child we lived in a flat about 10 minute walk from the carnival route. Carnival to me was always about having a good time - both insid eand out of the home. Carnival meant family and friends would come over and fill every inch of our 1-bedroom flat, I'd climb and watch from the window people walking over to their float in the early morning. The loud sound of whistles and horns was as natural as the sun coming up to shine. I get emotional about carnival because carnival is emotional for me.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/68537d_9bcd020230924ed9bf95db0814fc6589/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

It's memories of togetherness

of joy

of dancing

of family

of that one spot on the hill next to Sainsbury's where my Grandma used to stand (and eventually sit) every year without fail

Then as I grew

the meaning of carnival grew

I was taught about the spirit, and energy of rebellion, of resistance

The removal of basic human rights and agency that our ancestors expereinced

To imagine the deprevation, the realities of slavery is the easiest thing we can do as a generation(s) that was not born slaving on a plantation

Experiencing physical bondage and chains

We complain about brands

We complain about peoples use of the term 'carni' but what do we do?

I firmly believe respect begins with us

How do we pay respect to the history and heritage of carnival?

What history and knowledge do we impart onto the younger generation?

What history and knowledge do we impart onto our non-Caribbean friends?

What history and knowledge do we even have to impact?

We must continue to hail the works and efforts of Claudia Jones as well as the Carnivals that are still running across the islands

As well as hailing those that came after & helped maintain NHC and keep things together

I have been rejecting this term 'carni' for as long as I can remember but maybe what occurs now with all its restrictions and council enforced limitations across Ladbroke Grove & Westbourne Park is indeed 'carni'.

Please be clear that this is a personal reflection on how we treat our own culture & the general lack of protection that we typically fail to guard it with. Instead still juckin & jivin. I want what I consider best for the future of Notting Hill Carnival but maybe I don't know what that is? I'm only 23. I am aware there are the hardworking Mas bands and the Carnival Village team working to keep carnival together. Maybe there are ways the community can better serve & support Carnival Village to do the work they need to do.

Overall it is painful witnessing that after everything our grandparents went through, their cultural currency is now one of the most profitable events in the country.