Discussions about Notting Hill Carnival are a hot topic this year, certainly to a greater extent than in recent times, although the reason remains unclear.

Of course the white grievance media continues it war against the event, aided by police smears. (1) Yet, since the white establishment enjoys a veritable feast on the £396 million generated for the London economy, the broadsides are primarily Afriphobic propaganda rather than serious threats to the Mosiah bank holiday jamboree. (2)

While the external attacks are predictable, there are internal concerns as well – namely the “takeover of Notting Hill Carnival by Kensington & Chelsea Council (RBKC) and the capture of Carnival by the Metropolitan Police.” (3) The event is nominally managed by Notting Hill Carnival Ltd lead by council appointed officers. (3)

Disgruntlement was also on display outside the traditional post-event public meeting for Notting Hill Carnival that took place at The Tabernacle on 5 September. Attendees felt that meeting was structured, in contrast to previous years, to stifle debate and accountability. Consequently, there is reportedly “a strong desire”among carnivalists to return the management of the event to an organisation that is genuinely independent of any council or other state body. (4)

As we saw with the Bridge Park Complex, for example, local councils have a track record of acquiring Afrikan resources for their benefit, precipitating lengthy, costly and frequently unsuccessful legal battles. (5)

There are suggestions that efforts are already underway to challenge the current carnival management. (6) Such efforts would need to be broad based connecting the event both to its political history in the race riots of 1958, the wresting of community control from what had become an integrationist festival and ultimately its ancestral origins in resistance to and freedom from slavery. (7)

(1) Georgina Cutler (25/08/24) Notting Hill Carnival is ‘ultimate example of two-tier policing’, former Scotland Yard detective says. https://www.gbnews.com/news/notting-hill-carnival-two-tier-policing-crime-metropolitan-police; Nadine White (03/08/24) Met Police criticised for falsely suggesting man was stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/notting-hill-carnival-stabbings-met-police-wrong-b2605732.html
(2) Nels Abbey (19/09/23) We need to talk about ‘racism laundering’: what it is, who benefits – and how to be vigilant. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/19/racism-laundering-ghostwriting-daily-mail; Vic Motune (02/08/24) EXCLUSIVE: Carnival generates £396 million for London’s economy. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2024/08/02/carnival-generates-396-million-for-londons-economy/
(3) Stephen Spark (06/08/24) Opposition grows as Notting Hill Carnival organiser stifles dissent. https://socanews.com/news/opposition-grows-as-notting-hill-carnival-organiser-stifles-dissent/
(4) Ibid.
(5) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (07/01/19) Bridge Park Complex: What do we need to do to keep it? Pt 2. https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/bridge-park-complex-what-do-we-need-to-do-to-keep-it-pt-2-070119/; George Ruddock (29/01/22) Campaigners lose Bridge Park appeal, but could fight on. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20220129/campaigners-lose-bridge-park-appeal-could-fight
(6) Spark. Op. cit.
(7) Claire Holder (2017) The Impact Of Professionalism On Organisational Effectiveness: A Case Study Of The Notting Hill Carnival, London, 1989 To 2002. https://www.academia.edu/99917696/The_impact_of_professionalism_on_organisational_effectiveness_a_case_study_of_the_Notting_Hill_Carnival_1989_to_2002. p. 93-100.

we ask the question:

What should we do about Carnival?

1) Do most of us really overstand the history and function of Notting Hill Carnival?
2) Why is Carnival such a hot topic now compared to previous years?
3) How and when was NHC “taken over” and “captured”?
4) Do we have the capacity to take it back?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Bro. Abayomi Taharka: is an activist and member of the Alkebu-Lan revivalist Movement. He has been taking part in Notting Hill Carnival for over twenty-four years with three different masquerade bands. His involvement includes costume making at masquerade camps, Carnival Splash – masquerade competitions competing at Alexandra Palace, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Olympic Earls Court, representing the band as Carnival King on two occasions. , performing at Notting Hill, Hackney, Kingston and Margate carnivals as well being part of a delegation of bands representing Notting Hill at the Seychelles Carnival twice.

Bro. Mudada-Simba “Natural Mystic” Mbandaka: is the son of Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka. He is an activist, journalist and DJ. He has also been actively involved in carnival Mas Bands for twenty years.

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