In spite of having an economic impact approaching half a billion pounds (1), as recently as last month, a leaked letter suggested that Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest event of its kind in Europe was (not for the first time) “in jeopardy.” The letter highlighted that urgent funding was needed to address “critical public safety concerns.” (2) However, the anxiety was short lived as it was announced earlier this month that additional funds of £958,000 have been provided by City Hall, Royal Borough Of Kensington & Chelsea and City of Westminster to put the extra recommended safety and infrastructure measures in place. (3)
The situation has left some wondering how an event that is such an economic juggernaut can find itself in such a precarious position at this stage – not only just a month before the event but within the context of it’s fifty-nine year history in its current location. It has been suggested that the “subdued, defensive and almost apologetic” advocacy of Carnival by its organisers in the face of hostile, co-ordinated and sustained attacks by wide sections of the media, creating a negative perception of the event is a major factor. This year the organisers Notting Hill Carnival Limited have indicated their intention to tackle this head on. (4)
They will have their hands full. The Metropolitan Police have annonced they will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) technology on the approach routes to this year’s event but not within its boundaries. (5) At the same time they are characterising it as a “war zone” while talking up the possibility of a “mass casualty event” ocurring. In a poll conducted by their friends at the Daily Telegraph 83% want Notting Hill Carnival banned. Similarly, any tragedy is exploited for maximim politcal gain. On that note condolences are due to the family of Sis. Cher Maximen who was fatally stabbed at last year’s event. We also commiserate with the family of Mussie Imnetu who was murdered after carnival had officially ended and away from the route but whose death is being attached to carnival reports. (6)
Some might argue that the “war zone” was created by the police themselves with their aggressive militarised approach since 1976.
(7) Moreover, enabled by their vast array of media allies the police also engage in propaganda where the event is reported as a crime scene replete with the obligatory arrest statistics rather than a two day affirmation and celebration of history, culture and resistance. A more recent development is the issue of “racism laundering” in the press where they get an Afrikan to be “the face of a ghostwritten, negative, verging on racist piece” about the Notting Hill carnival, as exposed by erstwhile conservative commentator Dominique Samuels. (8)
In retort, carnival organisers condenmed the Metropolitan Police’s “anti-carnival agenda” after their federation released a survey of members they claimed was “hughly flawed” and “driven by unsubstantiated quotes,” based on the views of just 7% of potential officers on duty. (9) Consequently, police claims that Carnival is “hell”, “dangerous” and that they are assaulted, “treated as lambs to slaughter” and would “rather crawl naked through broken glass” have been met with some skepticism, particularly as we recall incidents like that of community activist and headteacher of Afruika Bantu Saturday School Bro. Tumaini Joseph. Bro. Tumaini was attacked by police in an unprovoked assault at Carnival in 2017 for which he was hospitalised. Yet it was he that was charged with assault. Fortunately in this case magistrates saw through the police lies and the case was dismissed and they were forced to pay a settlement. (10)
Nevertheless, Notting Hill Carnival also has its internal issues. Among groups like Reclaim Our Carnival there remains a desire to wrest the community’s carnival from the grasp of the council, although some are wary of such an approach. There is also disquiet about too many people seeing Carnival as nothing more than a street party instead of a cultural event that comes out of a strong history that can engage our young people. (11)
Redressing this will take some organisational co-ordination. In the meantime, Kayne Kawasaki a former teacher is implementing his own initiative with a Black History billboard that will feature Kelso Cochrane, the Antiguan carpenter whose (still unsolved) 1959 murder was the catalyst for the Notting Hill race riots that occurred just months after Claudia Jones inaugarated the first Caribbean Carnival at St. Pancras Town Hall under the theme “a people’s art is the genesis of their freedom.” Jones’ event was a response to the racial tinderbox that existed in the area at the time and is regarded by many as the mother of Carnival. (12)
Like so many areas of life Notting Hill Carnival has not escaped the cost of living crisis with econimcs pressures causing the continued reduction in participating bands, for many the heart of the event. Without financial injection the trend is likely to continue. Kensington and Chelsea council, that includes Grenfell Tower, states that it makes around £300,00 from licences against carnival expenditure of approaching £1,000,000. (13)
(1) Vic Motune (02/08/24) EXCLUSIVE: Carnival generates £396 million for London’s economy. https://www.voice-onlin e.co.uk/news/uk-news/2024/08/02/carnival-generates-396-million-for-londons-economy/ According to JN Bank economist James Williams’ study for The Voice ’s study: “For instance, if the Carnival generates an initial spending of £1 million, this might lead to a total economic output of £2 million. This means that for every £1 spent, the economy benefits by £2, giving us a multiplier of two. So, I estimate that the total economic impact of the Notting Hill Carnival, after applying a conservative economic multiplier of 1.1, and using conservative estimates, is approximately £492,826,950.”
(2) Sinai Fleary (28/04/25) Notting Hill Carnival in jeopardy, says leaked letter. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2025/06/19/notting-hill-carnival-in-jeopardy-says-leaked-letter/ https://alkebulan.org/2025/04/28/aswag-534-triple-centenary/; Alexandra Topping. (30/09/11) Is it all over for Notting Hill carnival? https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/sep/30/notting-hill-carnival-future-doubt; Symeon Brown (23/08/14) Is Notting Hill carnival in danger of losing its soul? https://www.channel4.com/news/notting-hill-carnival-50-years-london-video
(3) Joel Campbell (09/07/25) Notting Hill Carnival 2025 confirmed. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment/2025/07/09/notting-hill-carnival-2025-confirmed/
(4) Sephent Spark (21/07/25) Mas, music, money and remembrance – Notting Hill Carnival 2025. https://socanews.com/news/mas-music-money-and-remembrance-notting-hill-carnival-2025/
(5) James Devonshire (21/07/25) Met Police to use live facial recognition at Notting Hill Carnival. https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2025/07/21/met-police-to-use-live-facial-recognition-at-notting-hill-carnival/. https://monoskop.org/images/6/6b/Fanon_Frantz_The_Wretched_of_the_Earth_1963.pdf
(6) Albert Tait (02/12/24) Notting Hill Carnival a ‘war zone’ where policing is ineffective, warn Met officers. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/02/notting-hill-carnival-london-metropolitan-police-survey/; Rebecca Whittaker (22/04/25) Notting Hill Carnival at risk of ‘mass casualty event’ due to crowd control problems. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/notting-hill-carnival-risk-crowd-control-b2737221.html; Diane Abbott (02/09/24) Two Notting Hill carnival deaths is an awful tragedy, not a cheap opportunity for rightwing critics. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/02/notting-hill-carnival-deaths
(7) Ursula Petula Barzey (23/09/24) History of Notting Hill Carnival: From Social Struggle to Europe’s Largest Street Festival. https://www.caribbeanandco.com/history-of-notting-hill-carnival/;
(8) 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; Moya Lothian-McLean (07/09/23) British Comment Journalism is in the Gutter – Signed, a Comment Journalist. https://novaramedia.com/2023/09/07/british-comment-journalism-is-in-the-gutter-signed-a-comment-journalist/
(9) Sky News (02/12/25) ‘Anti-Notting Hill Carnival agenda’: Organisers criticise survey – as officers brand event ‘war zone’. https://news.sky.com/story/anti-notting-hill-carnival-agenda-organisers-criticise-survey-as-officers-brand-event-war-zone-13265153
(10) Ibid. The Voice Online (16/11/17) Family fight police brutality against Brixton activist. https://archive.voice-online.co.uk/article/family-fight-police-brutality-against-brixton-activist; Minkah Adofo (24/05/18) Victory For Tumaini Victory For Our Youth. https://www.instagram.com/p/BjdaVpRBaih/; Brixton Blog (20/09/23) Former pupils and top barrister for Saturday school’s 22nd annual lecture. https://brixtonblog.com/former-pupils-and-top-barrister-for-saturday-schools-22nd-annual-lecture/
(11) Stephen Spark (19/01/18) ROC brainstorms Notting Hill Carnival’s future. https://socanews.com/news/roc-brainstorms-notting-hill-carnivals-future/
(12) Sinai Fleary (28/02/25) Notting Hill Carnival to have Black history billboard thanks to former teacher. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/exclusive-news/2025/02/28/notting-hill-carnival-to-have-black-history-billboard-thanks-to-former-teacher/; Sagal Mohammed (25/07/20) Marxist, Feminist, Revolutionary: Remembering Notting Hill Carnival Founder Claudia Jones. https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/claudia-jones-notting-hill-carnival
(13) Jacob Phillips (26/08/22) Notting Hill Carnival bands forced to drop out as cost of living crisis is so bad. https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/notting-hill-carnival-bands-forced-24865335; Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (17/06/25) Meeting of Environment Select Committee, (Item 4.). https://rbkc.moderngov.co.uk/Committees/mgAi.aspx?ID=8309
we ask the question:
Can Notting Hill Carnival survive?
1) Does our community benefit from carnival’s half a billion pound economic impact?
2) Do the police/media have an “anti-carnival agenda”/or is it really a “war zone”?
3) Is carnival too dependent on city hall/local authorities?
4) Are we able to wrest control back (if we ever had it)?
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 almost 40 years standing and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Dr. Claire Holder: is a barrister at law and Chartered Secretary who had also been the Chief Executive of the Notting Hill Carnival from 1989 to 2002. Claire has comprehensive experience of event management, having been the driving force behind much of the success of the Notting Hill Carnival from that era. Claire also lectures in Events Management and promotes the use of carnivals and carnivalesque events to facilitate community and social cohesion, thereby improving the stability of communities and society.
Eld. Cecil Gutzmore: is an internationally renowned veteran scholar and activist who has been active in the Pan-Afrikan community for over fifty years. He migrated to the UK in 1961 later spending a decade back in Jamaica. Has been student, factory worker, clerical worker, community worker, local government and freelance training and management consultant and university lecturer in London and at UWI, Mona, Jamaica. His activism combines Black and left class positions.
Eld. Cecil’s writings on history, philosophy of science and political science and cultural studies have appeared in The Black Liberator, Marxism Today, Race and Class and Interventions; as well as various book chapters, newspaper columns and reviews in The Guardian (UK) The Jamaica Gleaner, The Morning Star and other newspapers. His research interests including the visual history of Africa and her Diasporas has led to the production of a number of photo-history exhibitions dealing with Caribbean Women and Marcus Mosiah Garvey amongst others. Eld. Cecil has also worked on some of the films of Menelik Shabazz.
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