15. Carnival

Description:Text: Rajinder Kumar Dudrah

With its origins in pagan Europe, carnival has become a celebration of community for the different ethnic groups in Birmingham. African-Caribbean people have transformed a festival which was introduced by colonial powers into the slave societies of the West Indies and Brazil and transformed it into an expression of their origins, emotions, art and culture. Now an annual event, Carnival contains a joyful abandon of people, playing steel pan- and reggae-influenced music, wearing elaborate costumes and masks, processing along local streets and making social commentary on the way.

The first large and public carnival in the UK was held in Notting Hill in London in 1966. The organising of carnival here was as a response to the racism and hostilities faced by Black migrants to Britain’s inner cities in the post-war period. Carnival acted as a unifying celebration of community bringing together different people through music and dance. The history of carnival in Birmingham and other UK cities has followed in the footsteps of this urban and racial history. Carnival in Birmingham in particular has increasingly come to display a distinctly Caribbean feel, reflecting the presence of the Black-British Caribbeans now settled in the city.

The costumes have become a major part of the applied arts of Birmingham. Professor Black, a local community leader and his team have created striking headgear, spectacular outfits and elaborate footwear, examples of which have been purchased and displayed by Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery.

A usual carnival day begins by bringing together friends, families and visitors to the city. Costumes, truck floats and sound systems are finally adorned after weeks of preparation and design. Traditionally, the carnival begins in Handsworth. People come out of their shops and houses along the way to cheer on, wave, and dance along as the carnival passes. The carnival convenes in Birmingham’s Perry Park in Perry Barr where the rest of the day is spent enjoying the carnival mood alongside funfair rides and Afro-Caribbean food stalls.