Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is a multi-day event outdoors, on the last weekend of August in Notting Hill, London held annually. The Carnival attracts up to 1.5 million participants and onlookers, making it one of the largest mass gatherings in Europe. A characteristic feature is the high participation of African and Caribbean immigrants and the large number of small music venues in the open air, giving the show a special touch. From concept at best comparable is the younger, also a year in Berlin Carnival of Cultures takes place.

The Carnival always starts on a Saturday with the panorama, a competition in London Steel bands, as a highlight, Sunday the parade of children and young people takes place, and on Monday - always on August Bank Holiday, a UK holiday - after all, the main parade takes place. Their route stretches for over five kilometers through the main streets of Notting Hill. In addition to trucks with steel bands or mobile sound systems provide costumed groups and over forty stages and equipment to the event area at high volume for mood.

The Carnival was initiated by the political activist Claudia Jones in January 1959 and was held at the St. Pancras Town Hall. It was a protest against massive racist attacks on immigrants in the previous year ( Notting Hill Riots ) and a racially motivated murder of a young immigrant in the spring of it. About culture, the right to human dignity and equality should be demonstrated. The motto was: "A people 's art is the genesis of Their freedom" ( The art of a people is the beginning of his freedom ).

The event was a great success, although it took place in a hall. In 1966, members of the London Free School had the idea of ​​the different cultures in Notting Hill with a festival to celebrate in ignorance of these events in August in the streets of the district. Not even members of the original event was attended. In the early years there were hardly more than 1000 participants.

In the following years, the Carnival was a significantly Caribbean color. The mid-1970s participated 150,000 people. 1976, there were riots, as part of the youth population of their frustration against the police free rein to let - a reaction to the harassment they encountered in everyday life. The protests and riots recurred, if so a ban on the event was discussed in the media and to a lesser extent, in the following years. Prince Charles was at this time one of the few personalities who nevertheless supported the event and supported.

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