Global carnival: a cultural evolution

FOUR ICONIC CARNIVALS TOGETHER TO MARK OUR TRADITIONAL JULY CELEBRATION

To mark Carnival day this year we are bringing together organisers and performers from London’s Notting Hill, and the Caribbean islands of St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago Carnivals for a panel discussion.

The online event ‘Global Carnival: a cultural evolution’ will include a panel discussion on the evolution of Carnival as well as feature exclusive performances from representatives of the different carnivals. This one-off occasion will be streamed at 5.00 pm on 3 July - the day that we traditionally hold Carnival in Bristol.

Caribbean Carnival’s origins are part of the legacy story of African enslavement and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Borne out of oppression, Carnival became a source of resistance and rebellion which is still alive and well in the modern-day carnival. Some of the topics the panel will explore include:

• What does Carnival mean to you?

• How do you prepare for Carnival (both personally and professionally)?

• What stands out most when you go to other Carnivals?

• How do you feel Carnival has changed over the years?

• Why is it important to create space for the younger generations

It wouldn’t be Carnival without music so we will be broadcasting live performances after the panel discussion including Nailah Blackman and Da Fuchaman.

Our African-Caribbean celebration was first staged in 1968 and it takes a year to organise. Due to ongoing Covid restrictions, it could therefore not be held this year. This will be the second year we have had to cancel, we know that a lot of people have found this difficult - us too! We hope that marking the day in this way will help keep the spirit of Carnival alive and ignite important discussions.

Commenting, our executive director LaToyah McAllister-Jones said: “We’re really excited to play host to what will be an illuminating discussion. Whilst there is a golden thread that runs through the traditional carnival; the mas camps, the parade and the engagement of schools and the community, we celebrate how each carnival significantly differs and reflects the community that plays host to it.”

“This year, although Carnivals all over the world are unable to come together on the streets, we will keep the spirit of Carnival alive with our friends from London, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago carnivals. We will be maintaining our carnival tradition and strengthening our bonds, in these new days on Zoom and live streaming.”

St Pauls Carnival is supported by the Arts Council and Bristol City Council and it costs over half a million pounds to stage the event.