Written by Jaden Parker
This weekend, London will be having a huge celebration! Notting Hill Carnival is one of the world’s largest annual arts events and the largest street event in Europe. Second in size to Brazil’s Rio Carnival, Notting Hill Carnival is rooted in Caribbean culture. Prior to the first official outdoor festival in 1966, indoor events began in 1959, spurred on by a broadcast for a “Caribbean Carnival” from Trinidadian activist Claudia Jones. But this beautiful celebration of Caribbean life was born from a terrible loss.
In 1959, Kelso Cochrane was stabbed by a group of white youths on his walk home from the hospital. He succumbed to his wounds an hour later. His death prompted people to join together in solidarity against the corrupt justice system amidst rumors of purposeful inaction by investigators. An Antiguan man aspiring to become a lawyer, he was only 32 years old. At his funeral, more than 1,200 people showed up to fight back against racially-motivated crimes. Amy Ashwood, wife of “Back to Africa” movement creator Marcus Garvey, chaired the government’s investigation into race relations as a result of Cochrane’s murder. The case to this day goes unsolved.
Today, Notting Hill Festival is celebrating the lives of nationalities all over London. “We felt that although West Indians, Africans, Irish and many other nationalities all live in a very congested area, there is very little communication between us. If we can infect them with a desire to participate, then this can only have good results,” Rhaune Laslett, organizer of the first carnival, said. Because she was a social worker, Laslett created the first street fair to celebrate children. Russell Henderson, a well-known pan player, performed at the very first event, which encouraged locals to gather and dance in the street.
The festival’s mission is to build on Notting Hill Carnival’s continuing success and produce a safe and spectacular event. With top names like Jay Z and Lil’ Kim appearing onstage in the 90s, it is safe to say that that mission has been fulfilled time and time again. If you’re interested in attending the festival someday, you can find an itinerary here. If you can’t make it but want to support their efforts, you can donate here.
