www.focus-info.org1 FOCUS The Magazine September/Octobert 2015A COMMUNITY FOR EXPATS BY EXPATS

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London on a bike

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On 22 June 1948, London residents saw astrange sight at Tilbury Docks. A boathad sailed down the ames and dockedwith passengers from an island in theCaribbean. e boat was called eWindrush and the 492 passengers werefrom Jamaica.For the average English person, Jamaicawas a place that they could only dream ofor read about in books. Now, less than ayear after the Second World War, a groupof people from an exotic place had arrivedand was waiting to disembark for a newlife in cold and grey England. is was the first of a wave of immigrantsfrom the Caribbean, years that would becalled ‘e Windrush Years’. epassengers had British passports but itwould take generations before many oftheir neighbours would consider themBritish. It was in response to the ensuingconflicts between the white and blackcommunities that a lady called ClaudiaJones—the Mother of Notting HillCarnival—organised the first Carnival in1958. Originally a town hall-style event, theCarnival has transformed into what hasbeen described as the largest street party inEurope and the second largest in theworld.

e idea of a carnival was not a newphenomenon to England—carnival eventshad been staged here since before theRomans invaded. e Caribbean culturebrought a whole new dimension to thecelebrations. e colour, the smells, thenoise—everything that England was notknown for, suddenly began to spill outonto the streets. Now, once a year, WestLondon transforms itself, and nearly twomillion people come out to dance, sing,eat and drink at one of the world’s beststreet parties over the August BankHoliday.For many the start of the celebrations isthe early morning party called Jouvert, asomewhat bacchanalian event thatoriginates from Trinidad. It comes fromthe French jour ouvert (day break). iscelebration usually starts at about 6.00amat the Junction of Ladbroke Grove andKensal Road. It’s here that you will see thespectacular costumes that representcharacters from Caribbean folklore, withstrange sounding names such as MokoJumbie Bats, Bookmen and Baby dolls.So with the party started, it’s time to headdown to the Steel Band Competitionwhere the best steel bands compete for thetitle of ‘National Champions of Steel’. During the carnival weekend there are

more than 300 stalls lining the streets,most selling authentic Caribbean food,including jerk chicken, rice and peas, andcurried goat. e selection of food isendless and it’s not the time to be pickyabout what you eat. Just jump in and trysomething new! One unusual drink to tryis Guinness Punch—a concoction ofsweetened condensed milk, spices, rumand a pint of black velvet!e air is not only heavy with the smell offood, there is also the music, with morethan 40 sound systems playing everythingfrom reggae, hip hop, and jazz, to drumand bass.One well established artist is Aba Shanti I,who has been playing roots reggae at thecarnival since 1993. Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae, which celebrates thespirituality of the Rastafarian faith. Itbecame popular with Rastafarians after thevisit of Haile Selassie to Jamaica in 1966and soon spread to the UK and the US.Aba is usually found on the cornerbetween Southern and East row at thecarnival.ere are also the parades of flamboyantlydressed men and women. Costumes aredecorated with bright feathers, tasselssequins, gold skeletons. Approximately150,000 plumes, 30m sequins and more

The Notting Hill Carnival

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RAC Club

than one million hours of work go intomaking these costumes. Often this revelry is held with traditionalBank Holiday English weather, rain, butnothing dampens the enthusiasm of bothrevelers and spectators and the spirit ofthe festival will keep you warm.For those wanting to take their children,the best day for this is Sunday—known asFamily Day, but even so be prepared forcrowds.e main celebrations usually end at8.30pm, but there are plenty of places togo and party into the late night and earlymorning, one of the most infamous beingthe Trailer Happiness, Carnival lockdown party. Alongside this, e RunningWild Carnival Brixton Session at Jamm isbound to be, well, wild.e early days of the carnival were notwithout controversy. One particular riotin 1976 resulted in the injury of 100police officers, an event that e Clashimmortalised in the song White Riot.Today, the wealth of nationalities that livein London means really the carnival is nolonger about trying to bring peace to thecity’s white and black communities, butinstead it brings English people of allbackgrounds together to celebrate withneighbours and visitors from overseas. It’s

come a long way from that firstJamaican Dance Hall-style partyin St Pancreas Town Hall. Whowould have thought that the firstboatload of Jamaicans would bring withthem such a spectacular and colourful partof their culture?

Other than that, just pack yourenthusiasm and head out for someCaribbean fun! I asked a Jamaican friendof mine who attends the festival everyyear, what the carnival meant to him andhis reply was simply: “It’s my Christmas.”So I wish you all a Merry Notting Hill

On a practical note, here are afew words of advice fromregular attendees:

N Always arrange a meetingspot in case you get lost.

N Mobile phone reception can bepatchy.

N Wear sturdy shoes; with morethan one million people millingaround, you are bound to getyour toes trodden on.

Lena Walton is a freelancewriter and publishedauthor. She is currentlywriting her second novel,Not Quite Gaza, which is setin Israel. And she has alsorecently resurrected herblog, lenawaltonWAYWARDDAUGHTER.She can be reached atlenawalton@yahoo.co.uk.