In spite of being an increasingly bloated cash cow for corporate interests, the UK establishment has determined that Notting Hill Carnival is one of the premier battlegrounds on which to wage its culture war against Afrikan people. The police have declared it a “war zone,” the media treating it as a outsized crime scene, while conducting denigratory polls. (1)
In response this offensive has sparked renewed vigour in protective sentiments from within the community. This year former teacher Kayne Kawasaki implemented the Black History billboard, featuring Kelso Cochrane, to infuse the event with its original political essence and there is talk of reviving the Reclaim Our Carnival group to wrest the community’s carnival from the grasp of the local council. (2)
The existential threat to Notting Hill Carnival was emphasised in June this year amid reports that the event was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding before an emergency bailout was approved. (3)
Many were left wondering whether if the indignity of vying for funds would an annual occurrence. Campaigner and author Kelyon B Ross is looking to address this head on. He’s launched a petition to “Make Notting Hill Carnival a Protected UK National Treasure – Fund It Forever By Law.” He continues:
“After 60 years of giving joy, unity, and culture to Britain, it’s time the government gave something back without complaint especially if the discussion of repararaitons is off the table.
In 2026, Notting Hill Carnival turns 60. From its Windrush roots to the sound systems, steel pans and sequins that colour the streets today – Carnival is one of Britain’s greatest cultural legacies.
It is also the largest street festival in Europe, generating up to £400 million in economic impact each year, while bringing millions of people together in peace and unity And yet… it still receives no guaranteed government funding. Security costs? Community support? Cultural education? All still underfunded.
It’s time to change that. Our Simple Ask: To mark its 60th anniversary, we call on the UK Government to: LEGALLY PROTECT and ANNUALLY FUND Notting Hill Carnival as an official, publicly funded National Cultural Treasure.
We demand:
- Annual Government funding to secure Carnival’s future.
- National recognition of Carnival as a protected cultural tradition.
- Respect for the community that built it.” (4)
On the face of it, such an endeavour seems to be an almost insurmountable proposition given the animus against Carnival whipped up by the establishment. So its main chance of success can only be an overwhelming critical mass of support from the community. The challenge will be how to galvanize it.
(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (28/07/25) Can Notting Hill Carnival survive? https://alkebulan.org/2025/07/27/aswag-547-can-nhc-survive/; 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/ ; 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; 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
(2) 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; Stephen Spark (19/01/18) ROC brainstorms Notting Hill Carnival’s future. https://socanews.com/news/roc-brainstorms-notting-hill-carnivals-future/
(3) 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; 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) Kelyon B Ross (2025) Make Notting Hill Carnival a Protected UK National Treasure – Fund It Forever By Law. https://www.change.org/p/make-notting-hill-carnival-a-protected-uk-national-treasure-fund-it-forever-by-law?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=a97db1e0-919f-11f0-aa1e-e354c1b5127a
we ask the question:
Can Notting Hill Carnival survive? Pt 2
1) What is NHC’s value to the Afrikan community?
2) Is there a precedent for the kind of government support being requested?
3) What practical steps are required to make the petition a success?
4) How could a successful petition be leveraged to get the desireed result?
Our Special Guest:
Kelyon “Coach Kelz” Ross: is a cultural educator, legacy writer, and advocate for African-Caribbean heritage in Britain. With a background spanning academia, creative arts, and grassroots mentoring, he is the author of the “Caribbean Britain: Our Legacy, Our Fight” book series and the force behind the Notting Hill Carnival 60th Anniversary campaign. Drawing from his Windrush lineage and Pan-African values, Kelz blends history, lived experience, and strategic activism to challenge erasure, amplify unheard voices, and protect cultural traditions under threat. His mission is rooted in truth, order, and ancestral accountability — to honour the past, confront the present, and secure a future of dignity and ownership for his people.
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