Trini Jungle Juice: Carnival Photos :: Notting Hill Carnival | Rotterdam Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival has been taking place in London, on the last weekend in August, every year since 1965. This great festival began initially from the energies of Black immigrants from the Caribbean, particularly from Trinidad, where the Carnival tradition is very strong, and from people living locally who dreamed of creating a festival to bring together the people of Notting Hill, most of whom were facing racism, lack of working opportunities, and poor housing conditions resulting in a general suppression of good self-esteem.

Six disciplines go to make up the carnival as we know it today. Mas' (masquerade), Steelband, Calypso (political, social and satirical commentary, set to music), Soca (the traditional music of Carnival, a fusion of Soul and Calypso), Static Sound Systems, and Samba all play their part in the Carnival.

After celebrating carnival had spread virtually throughout the entire world from its origins in Europe, it had developed into a chain of individual identities and forms. Even the German and Dutch forms of carnival strongly diverge from that of the carnival in Nice, in France. The carnival phenomenon took on a character all its own, especially in the Caribbean area. The most famous one is Rio of course, but Trinidad and Tenerife have their own versions too with, artistically, distinctive forms of expression.

Globalisation has resulted in the Caribbean translation of this originally Western cultural expression appearing in a new guise. A noted example of this is Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Europe has also been confronted with this new phenomenon. Best examples of this are Notting Hill Carnival and Summer carnival. An initially Antillean and Aruban occasion, Summer carnival has grown over the years into an event with which many cultures can identify. Nowadays Surinam, Brazil, Cape Verde and Bolivia are among the visible influences. People have come together, giving birth to a new national tradition. Summer carnival has developed its own content and its own artistic profile. There was a fusion of influences between diverse points of the compass and an event was born with a character all its own.

The growth of Summer Carnival, both in size and quality, meant that the city of Rotterdam then embraced the event. Any one thinking of New Orleans, thinks of Mardi Gras. Pictures of Summer Carnival are increasingly featured in promotion material for the city of Rotterdam. Everyone is proud of this event. It is festive, colourful, proud and a protest - all at the same time. Its form appeals to a wide audience. Increasingly, the designers of costumes are viewed as artists and the dancers as artistes. Summer Carnival transforms the city centre into the biggest stage in the Netherlands.

The media also perceive Summer Carnival’s attractiveness, so the event is published in newspapers and television far over the Dutch border. Not only in Western Europe, but also in South and North America and Eastern Europe.

In addition to attending to the more visual forms of expression, Summer Carnival also pays careful attention to the presentation of traditional and contemporary music trends. In addition to the 25 live orchestras in the parade, Summer Carnival presents national and international artistes on the stage. In the past, Oscar D’Leon, Gruppo Gale, Kassav, Daniela Mercury, Terra Samba, Issac Delgado were on view. All stars from overseas, and all set to conquer West Europe in the future too. International co-operation is growing every day. Co-operation projects are being developed with groups or organisations.

Berlin Carnival (Germany)

The Carnival of Cultures is a reflection of Berlin‘s cultural diversity. It brings together professional artists and amateurs, young and old, and - furthermore - is a great opportunity for members of Berlin's ethnic communities to make their cultures visible to Berliners and visitors equally. Whether it's traditional or modern - every culture gets its chance to add their aesthetic vision to the capital‘s reputation as a vibrant and constantly changing metropolis. Being part of this traditional event has always been an unbelievable experience for both, visitors and participants.

When the lust for life and the delight of colours unite and old and young are dancing in the streets together and creating a festival of tolerance and variety then Berlin is celebrating the Carnival of Cultures. During the four-day festival 1.3 million visitors will experience the capital at its best: cosmopolitan, dynamic, buoyant, diverse and colourful.

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